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At Least 59 Die as Militants Storm Police College Near Quetta, Pakistan At Least 59 Die as Militants Storm Police College Near Quetta, Pakistan
(about 2 hours 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 — Wielding guns and explosives, three militants killed at least 59 people and wounded 120 at a police training college in southwestern Pakistan late Monday, before security forces, who mobilized outside, seized control of the campus, government officials said.
At least 59 people were killed and 117 were critically wounded, government officials told The Associated Press. Most of the casualties were cadets. Most of the victims were cadets. The college housed 700 cadets and training staff members, most of whom were rescued, according to local news media reports.
“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. “Within four hours, we have cleared the compound,” said Mir Sarfraz Bugti, a minister of Baluchistan Province, who added that two attackers had detonated suicide vests and the third had been 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, said at a news conference with Mr. Bugti that 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 the militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, an extremist group, and had been in contact with handlers in Afghanistan.
The attackers were able to enter the college even though the authorities had been warned that an attack in the area was imminent. 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 a sentry. The college’s three compounds have a single entrance, officials said, and the militants were able to enter by killing a sentry in a watchtower.
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. Baluchistan Province has been simmering with a separatist insurgency by Baluch rebels for decades. And Taliban militants maintain a presence in Quetta and many regions of the province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.
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.” Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, the province’s chief minister, told local news media 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 said.
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 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 Quetta hospital.
In August, a suicide bomber killed dozens of lawyers at a Quetta hospital.