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| Quetta attack: Militants kill dozens at Balochistan Police College | Quetta attack: Militants kill dozens at Balochistan Police College |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 59 cadets and guards have been killed after militants attacked a police college in the Pakistani city of Quetta, officials say. | At least 59 cadets and guards have been killed after militants attacked a police college in the Pakistani city of Quetta, officials say. |
| Three militants wearing suicide bomb vests entered the college late on Monday, reportedly taking hostages. | Three militants wearing suicide bomb vests entered the college late on Monday, reportedly taking hostages. |
| A major security operation lasted for hours and all attackers were killed. | A major security operation lasted for hours and all attackers were killed. |
| No group has said it carried out the assault, but Quetta has seen similar attacks by separatists and Islamist militants in recent years. | No group has said it carried out the assault, but Quetta has seen similar attacks by separatists and Islamist militants in recent years. |
| Hundreds of trainees were evacuated from Balochistan Police College as troops arrived to repel the militants. Local media reported at least three explosions at the scene. | Hundreds of trainees were evacuated from Balochistan Police College as troops arrived to repel the militants. Local media reported at least three explosions at the scene. |
| "I saw three men in camouflage whose faces were hidden carrying Kalashnikovs," one cadet said according to AFP news agency. "They started firing and entered the dormitory but I managed to escape over a wall." | "I saw three men in camouflage whose faces were hidden carrying Kalashnikovs," one cadet said according to AFP news agency. "They started firing and entered the dormitory but I managed to escape over a wall." |
| The police academy is home to hundreds of students and many of the cadets who died were killed in the blasts, said Major General Sher Afgan of the Frontier Corps. | The police academy is home to hundreds of students and many of the cadets who died were killed in the blasts, said Major General Sher Afgan of the Frontier Corps. |
| M Ilyas Khan, BBC News: 'Militants hit state symbol' | |
| This assault has clearly highlighted the woes of Pakistan's south-western city of Quetta not just because of the heavy casualties, but because it came on the very day a judicial commission investigating an earlier attack held its first hearing. | |
| That attack in August was carried out on a "soft" target - the emergency ward of a city hospital. The militants have now hit a symbol of the state, though some still consider police to be a softer target in a region where law enforcement has largely slid under the control of the military. | |
| It all comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Pakistan and its two neighbours, India and Afghanistan. A top military official claimed these attackers had handlers in Afghanistan. | |
| But many will point to Pakistan's own alleged use of militants as a state policy, which they say has now started to backfire. Northern Balochistan has been home to Afghan Taliban who have long-standing links not only to elements within the Pakistani establishment but also to al-Qaeda and Pakistani Taliban groups that have since turned against Islamabad. | |
| The exact sequence of events is unclear but there was intermittent exchange of fire between the attackers and security forces for several hours, according to Dawn newspaper. There were also reports of a hostage situation. | The exact sequence of events is unclear but there was intermittent exchange of fire between the attackers and security forces for several hours, according to Dawn newspaper. There were also reports of a hostage situation. |
| More than 100 people, mostly trainees, were injured. | More than 100 people, mostly trainees, were injured. |
| Pakistan's army and the paramilitary Frontier Corps took part in the military counter-operation, which Balochistan provincial home minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti said was now over. | Pakistan's army and the paramilitary Frontier Corps took part in the military counter-operation, which Balochistan provincial home minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti said was now over. |
| Two of the militants died after detonating their bomb vests and one was killed by security forces. | Two of the militants died after detonating their bomb vests and one was killed by security forces. |
| Officials blamed a faction of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant group and said the attackers "were in communication with operatives in Afghanistan". | Officials blamed a faction of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant group and said the attackers "were in communication with operatives in Afghanistan". |
| Balochistan Police College | Balochistan Police College |
| Quetta is the capital of Balochistan province, which is battling an insurgency as well as Islamist militants, with violent attacks common. | Quetta is the capital of Balochistan province, which is battling an insurgency as well as Islamist militants, with violent attacks common. |
| Earlier in the day, two customs officers were shot dead and another critically wounded in Surab, south of Quetta. | Earlier in the day, two customs officers were shot dead and another critically wounded in Surab, south of Quetta. |
| In August, 88 people were killed in separate bomb attacks targeting a hospital and lawyers in Quetta. | In August, 88 people were killed in separate bomb attacks targeting a hospital and lawyers in Quetta. |
| The Pakistani military has been conducting military operations against militants in volatile tribal areas near the Afghan border. | The Pakistani military has been conducting military operations against militants in volatile tribal areas near the Afghan border. |
| Are you in Quetta? Have you been affected by the attack? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you in Quetta? Have you been affected by the attack? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
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