Lahore blast handler among 10 Jamatul Ahrar members killed

LAHORE -- A key handler of the deadly Lahore suicide bombing in February was among 10 Jamatul Ahrar (JA) terrorists killed in a shoot-out in Lahore, said officials Saturday (April 8).

Police were taking Anwar ul Haq -- the handler of the suicide bomber -- and four other JA members on Saturday to identify the location of hidden weapons when militants ambushed the group and freed the five men, said the Punjab Province Counter Terrorism Department, according to the Express Tribune.

All five briefly freed JA members were killed in the ensuing gun battle, as well as five of their comrades. The police suffered no casualties.

The slain militants were all members of JA, a Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) splinter group, according to police.

JA claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing on Mall Road in Lahore that killed at least 13 people.