10 terrorists killed in encounter in Pakistan's Punjab: police

Anti-terrorism officials in Pakistan's Punjab province said Saturday that 10 terrorists were killed in an overnight encounter near Lahore, the provincial capital.

The terrorists were involved in a deadly suicide bombing in February which killed 15 people, including two senior police officers, officials of the Counter Terrorism Department or CTD said.

The bomber had targeted the police when they were on a busy road to control a protest outside the provincial assembly building. Nearly 60 people were also injured in the attack.

The Taliban Jamaat ul Ahrar group had claimed responsibility for the attack.

An official said that a facilitator of the February bombing Anwar ul Haq was being taken to Manawan, a small town on the outskirts of Lahore, to recover hidden explosives when nine militants attacked the CTD team.

The security personnel launched a counter attack and killed nine attackers. Anwar ul Haq was also killed in exchange of fire.

Officials said that the security forces also recovered arms and explosives from the scene.

The incident occurred days after a Taliban bomber killed four soldiers and several other people in Lahore. Endit