This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-37757914
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 7 | Version 8 |
---|---|
Quetta police college attack leaves dozens dead | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least 44 cadets and guards have been killed after militants attacked a police college in the Pakistani city of Quetta, officials say. | |
A major security operation lasted for hours after the attackers entered the building and opened fire. | A major security operation lasted for hours after the attackers entered the building and opened fire. |
The officials believe three militants wearing bomb vests stormed the college. All were killed. | |
Hundreds of trainees were evacuated from Balochistan Police College as troops arrived to repel the militants. | Hundreds of trainees were evacuated from Balochistan Police College as troops arrived to repel the militants. |
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, he said. | |
Many of the cadets were killed by the blasts, said Major General Sher Afgan of the Frontier Corps. | |
He blamed a faction of the Lashker-e-Jhangvi militant group and said the attackers "were in communication with operatives in Afghanistan". | |
No group has so far said it was behind the attack, which happened late on Monday. | |
Gunfire and explosions could be heard well after the attack was launched, witnesses said. | Gunfire and explosions could be heard well after the attack was launched, witnesses said. |
More than 100 people, mostly trainees, were injured. | |
"They were rushing toward our building firing shots so we rushed for safety toward the roof and jumped down in the back to save our lives,'' a police trainee told Geo television. | "They were rushing toward our building firing shots so we rushed for safety toward the roof and jumped down in the back to save our lives,'' a police trainee told Geo television. |
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. |
Quetta is the provincial capital of Balochistan, where separatist groups and Islamist militants have both carried out similar attacks in the past. | Quetta is the provincial capital of Balochistan, where separatist groups and Islamist militants have both carried out similar attacks in the past. |
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. |