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At Least 20 Die as Militants Storm Police College Near Quetta, Pakistan At Least 59 Die as Militants Storm Police College Near Quetta, Pakistan
(35 minutes later)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A police training college in southwestern Pakistan became a battleground early Tuesday as security forces clashed with three militants who had killed a sentry and stormed the college hours earlier, trapping at least 250 cadets, officials said.ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A police training college in southwestern Pakistan became a battleground early Tuesday as security forces clashed with three militants who had killed a sentry and stormed the college hours earlier, trapping at least 250 cadets, officials said.
At least 20 people were killed by gunfire, according to Mir Sarfraz Bugti, a minister of Baluchistan Province. At least 59 people were killed and 117 were critically wounded, government officials told The Associated Press. Most of the casualties were cadets.
“Within four hours, we have cleared the compound,” Mr. Bugti said, adding that two of the attackers blew themselves up and the third was shot. “Within four hours, we have cleared the compound,” said Mir Sarfraz Bugti, a minister of Baluchistan Province, adding that two of the attackers detonated suicide vests, and the third was shot.
Maj. Gen. Sher Afgun of the Frontier Corps, a paramilitary force, at a news conference with Mr. Bugti, said the attack began around 11:10 p.m. Monday at the police college, which is about nine miles from Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan.Maj. Gen. Sher Afgun of the Frontier Corps, a paramilitary force, at a news conference with Mr. Bugti, said the attack began around 11:10 p.m. Monday at the police college, which is about nine miles from Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan.
The general said that the militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, an extremist group, and had been in contact with handlers in Afghanistan.The general said that the militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, an extremist group, and had been in contact with handlers in Afghanistan.
The authorities had been warned that an attack in or near Quetta was imminent. The attackers were able to enter the college even though the authorities had been warned that an attack in the area was imminent.
The college’s three compounds have a single entrance, officials said, and the militants were able to enter by killing the sentry in a watchtower. About 250 cadets were trapped for several hours as security forces mobilized outside. The college’s three compounds have a single entrance, officials said, and the militants were able to enter by killing a sentry.
Quetta has been simmering with a separatist insurgency by Baluch rebels. And Taliban militants maintain a presence in Quetta and many regions of the province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.Quetta has been simmering with a separatist insurgency by Baluch rebels. And Taliban militants maintain a presence in Quetta and many regions of the province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.
Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, the chief minister of Baluchistan, told the local news media that “we received intelligence reports three to four days back that terrorists, suicide bombers planned to target Quetta.” Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, the province’s chief minister, told reporters that “we received intelligence reports three to four days back that terrorists, suicide bombers planned to target Quetta.”
“Security was already on high alert, and maybe that is why they have targeted the police training center on the outskirts of the city,” Mr. Zehri told the GEO News television network.“Security was already on high alert, and maybe that is why they have targeted the police training center on the outskirts of the city,” Mr. Zehri told the GEO News television network.
The brazen attack showed that extremist groups remain a potent threat for the Pakistani military and security forces, which have claimed great success against militants in recent years.The brazen attack showed that extremist groups remain a potent threat for the Pakistani military and security forces, which have claimed great success against militants in recent years.
In August, a suicide bomber killed dozens of lawyers at a hospital in Quetta. In August, a suicide bomber killed dozens of lawyers at a Quetta hospital.