Pakistani investigators have found evidence suggesting that Tuesday's terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore was actually a hijack bid by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to secure the release of its leaders arrested in the wake of last November's Mumbai carnage.

While investigating agencies have picked up several suspects for questioning, they are yet to trace the 12 attackers who fled after the audacious attack. The agencies have also released sketches of a few suspects.

Rahman Malik, the prime minister's adviser on the interior, said two persons were arrested in Lahore and investigators were tracking phone calls made by the gunmen.

Sources in the country's security set-up, however, said initial investigations suggested that the attackers wanted to hijack the bus carrying the Lankans and demand the release of LeT's chief operations commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.

Sources also said that the terrorists targetted the bus only after failing to seize it.

A court in Rawalpindi on Wednesday extended the custody of Lakhvi and three other LeT men —- Zarar Shah, Abu Alqa, and Hamad Ameen Sadiq —- by another 14 days. All four were arrested for allegedly masterminding the Mumbai strikes.

Amir Mir/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication