Anti-Israel protest by radical group turns violent in Pak, 11 killed in firing

Radical Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on Saturday claimed that police shot 11 of its supporters dead as they attempted to march towards Islamabad to stage a demonstration outside the US embassy against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

The authorities in Punjab, however, said at least 40 policemen were injured in clashes with the TLP that began two days ago amid the group’s call for anti-Israel demonstrations.

An official said violent confrontations broke out on Saturday when 10,000 to 15,000 TLP workers, who had camped overnight at Azadi Chowk in Lahore, resumed their march towards Islamabad.

“The main clashes took place between Shahdara and Muridke areas, not far from Lahore, in which dozens of policemen and TLP workers suffered injuries," the officer said.

TLP chief Saad Rizvi, who managed to evade arrest, is leading what the group described as the “TLP million march” towards Islamabad.

Mobile and internet services remained suspended in areas of Lahore, where the protesters gathered.

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