Pakistan hit by deadly attacks

Gunmen attacked three security sites in the Pakistani city of Lahore Thursday, npr.org reports. At least 38 people have been killed as a result of the strikes, which were aimed to stop a planned attack near the Afghan border.

The violence began around 9 a.m. when gunmen attacked a building where the Federal Investigation Agency, which deals with matters regarding immigration and terrorism, was housed. Another attack took place on a commando training facility. The attacks lasted well into the afternoon until security killed five attackers and freed a family that was being held hostage.

Four gunmen raided a police training school in Manawan, which is on the outskirts of Lahore. The short attack killed nine officers and the militants.

A third team of at least eight gunmen scaled the back wall of a commando training facility near the airport in Lahore. At least one police officer was killed there.

Later in the evening, a bomb exploded near a school in Peshwar. The school was closed at the time, but the blast injured five people in the area.

The attacks shut down all activity in Lahore. Government offices were ordered to shut, markets did not open, streets were empty, and stores closed. Lahore was paralyzed which proves how organized the militants are.

No group claimed responsibility, although the suspicion has fallen on the Taliban who have claimed other strikes. 

My Take: The Middle East is very unstable, and it is important to show others that we are not the only people at war. Countries in the Middle East are at war with each other and it has continued to grow more violent and deadly everyday.

Maxwells to remain in jail

Oswego County Judge Walter Hafner has denied a request for a “stay of sentence” for Lindsey and Lynn Maxwell, Syracuse.com reports.

Salvatore Lanza, the Maxwells’ lawyer, filed paperwork for a “stay of sentence” which would allow the Maxwells to be free from jail while their appeal was being decided.

With the denial, the Maxwells will have to stay in the Oswego County Correctional Facility until their appeal is decided.

The Maxwells were sentenced to two years in county jail after they were found guilty of four counts each of endangering the welfare of a child. These charges come from filthy living conditions and locking the child in her room on two occasions.

Erin Maxwell, 11, died Aug. 30, 2008. Her stepbrother, Alan Jones, was charged with her murder and found guilty last month of strangling her. He will be sentenced Nov. 6.

My Take: This trial has been very important in the Syracuse area. Many people are now curious to know how the case will end and whether her family will be held responsible.

Leona Lewis punched at book signing

Singer, Leona Lewis, was allegedly assaulted at a book signing in London, BBC reports.  

While signing autographs at a book signing, a guy came up and punched the side of her head. Witnesses said they could hear the impact of the assault, while others only saw Lewis run out with her hand over her eye and a man on the floor.

Waterstone, the store where the attack occurred, says that they take security very seriously and that they wanted to thank Leona for her professionalism. 

Lewis decided to pull out of her appearance on BBC’s The One Show, but is set to play a show in London in early November.

My Take: I found this story very bizarre. From the reports, it sounded like the man had no motive to attack Leona. Witnesses said that he was in line to have his book signed, and when she signed the book, he punched her head.