Post date: Jan 27, 2011 5:54:9 PM
A U.S. embassy official shot dead two gunmen during an attempted street robbery in Pakistan's Lahore while a third person is run over and killed after being hit by a consulate vehicle rushing to the American's aid.
LAHORE, PAKISTAN (JANUARY 27, 2011) DUNYA TV - A U.S. consulate employee shot and killed two gunmen in self-defence in the Pakistani city of Lahore on Thursday (January 27), police said.
The American was stopped at a traffic signal when two men chasing aboard a motorbike stopped near his car.
"He stopped at the road crossing. Two robbers pointed their guns at him. According to reports we have received so far, he fired, which killed one of them on the crossing. We have just learnt that the other one has also died," a police official on duty told reporters.Lahore police chief Aslam Tarin told Reuters the American told police that he opened fire in self-defence after one of the men pulled out a pistol.
Tarin said a consulate car that came to the scene later struck and killed a pedestrian.
He said the foreigner was in custody at the police station where the matter was being investigated.
Another police official Omar Saeed said they were investigating whether it was a "robbery attempt".
Pakistan is a vital U.S. ally, but anti-American sentiment runs high in the mainly Muslim nation.