US diplomat kills two Pakistanis in Lahore

[eppur_se_muova]

Source: BBC

An American diplomat in the Pakistani city of Lahore has shot and killed a Pakistani motorcycle rider and his pillion passenger, police say.

They say that the consular official fired his pistol in self-defence. US embassy officials confirmed that an American was involved.

The men were pursuing the American in his car when the incident happened.

A pedestrian was also killed by a speeding car from the US consulate which came to help, police say.



Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12298546

[xchrom]

1. hmmm -- this is going to be interesting. nt

[Enrique]

2. is this diplomat working for Blackwater?

also the "speeding car from the U.S. consulate", which killed a pedestrian, driven by a Blackwater employee?

[Robb]

3. Update: US official kills two gunmen in Lahore

http://dawn.com/2011/01/27/us-official-kills-two-gunmen-in-lahore.html

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Bizarre behaviour at that link - it claimed it was 'verifying my connection'

'for security reasons' with a special screen that counted done from 10 to do so. And then the connection timed out before giving me anything. Anyone else get such a bad response from that site?

[crim son]

14. For me, the page is "not found." n/t

[Bragi]

4. This could be a huge problem

The reports are sketchy, so it makes sense to reserve judgment, but once the Pak media and hard core anti-American Islamic political groups get going, I fear this could be a huge headache for the U.S.

These dips should NOT have been outside the wire without protection, especially carrying and using guns that are illegal. Big problem.

[Lefta Dissenter]

5. ...damn... (n/t)

:(

[Beacool]

7. I'll reserve judgment until we find out more details.

But it sure as hell doesn't help us when our diplomats are involved in shoot outs and run over pedestrians.

:(

[Lefta Dissenter]

8. my main concern

is that the US Diplomat is being held by the Pakistani government.

Regardless of what instigated this event, it's just horrible, scary and sad for all involved.

You're right that this will not help anything in our relations with Pakistan, and I certainly hope this will not spark spreading retribution against our State Dept in the Middle East.

And if I sound overly US-Diplomat-centric, it's because I'm the mom of a Foreign Service officer whose first post will be in the Middle East (by his choice).

[Beacool]

9. There's a lot of violence against westerns in this part of the world.

I wonder if the license plate on the car alerted the two men on the bike that this was a diplomat's car. Yeah, we have to worry about retaliation. I hope that your son will be safe.

:-(

[Turborama]

10. US official 'shot Pakistani gunmen' (& has been charged with murder)

Source: Al Jazeera English

Consular worker charged with the murder of two men whom he says he shot in self-defence during attempted robbery.

Last Modified: Jan 27 2011 22:03 GMT

A US consular worker has been charged with the murder of two Pakistani men after they were shot dead in a busy street in Lahore. The US citizen told police he shot the two motorcycle riders in self-defence after drew a gun on him in an attempted robbery, police officials told the AFP news agency.

"The American national told us he was driving his vehicle and stopped at a traffic signal. He saw motorcycle riders and one pulled out a pistol. The man told us he then pulled out his pistol and fired in self-defence," Aslam Tarin, the police chief, said.

Another Pakistani man was killed shortly after the shooting when a car from the US consulate in Lahore hit two pedestrians at the scene of the shooting, the police chief said.

Umar Saeed, a police officer at the scene, confirmed the details of the shooting and said the consular official had used a wireless radio device to call colleagues for help immediately after the shooting and a second consular car turned up to rescue him. "Dozens of people gathered after the incident and tried to stop both the vehicles. Drivers of both the vehicles tried to flee the scene but police managed to stop them," Saeed said.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2011/01/2011127204843475131.html

[Angry Dragon]

11. Probably CIA

[Poll_Blind]

12. A hit, maybe? Also, the fact that the car driven to rescue the driver...

...was driving recklessly enough to hit two people and kill one of them...

PB

[notadmblnd]

13. I like the way they describe ther person as a US citizen

I imagine that's to point out that he's not military? But then hired killers for one of the Gov's private army contractors aren't considered military now, are they?

[dipsydoodle]

15. US official Raymond Davis on Lahore murder charges

Source: BBC News 28 January 2011 Last updated at 12:09

A US consular employee has appeared in court charged with the murder of two motorcyclists who were shot dead in the Pakistani city of Lahore.

>

The man involved in the shooting was a consular official, said the US embassy in Islamabad. It did not give his role.

>

Lahore's police chief, Aslam Tareen, told the BBC Mr Davis was employed on "security duties" in the consulate.

He did not have diplomatic immunity and was not one of the foreign security personnel allowed to carry firearms, according to the Pakistani authorities.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12305049

[eppur_se_muova]

16. Interesting details. nt

[VermeerLives]

17. If this isn't just for show to prevent riots, then

we had better have a very heavy hand as a response. And in fact, this US citizen shouldn't even be in their custody but should remain at the Embassy with assurances that he won't flee. Pakastani witnesses? Against Americans they are less reliable than a Russian Lada.