ISLAMABAD - The ‘enemies of Pakistan’ who want to ‘destabilise’ the country were behind Tuesday’s Lahore terror strike that claimed the lives of eight people and left six Sri Lankan cricketers injured, Interior Minister Rehman Malik says.

‘Enemies of Pakistan who want to destabilise this country were responsible for the attack,’ Malik told reporters.

Pointing to the use of heavy weaponry, grenades, and rocket launchers in the attack, he said this pointed to the involvement of organised terror groups in the strike.

‘There was an attack on the Danish embassy in which Al Qaeda was involved,’ Malik pointed out.

He also complimented team bus driver Mehar Mohammad Khalil for showing presence of mind to take the vehicle to safety

Twelve heavily armed terrorists sprayed indiscriminate fire at the convoy of the Sri Lankan team as it headed for Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium for the third day’s play in the second cricket test against Pakistan.

Of the victims, six were security personnel meant for protecting the team members. Two bystanders also died in the firing, which began at 8.30 a.m. and lasted for almost 25 minutes.