QUETTA: At least 60 people were killed and more than 100 injured when gunmen wearing suicide vests stormed a Police Training Center in the Balochistan capital and took hostages, before launching an armed assault, ARY News reported.

Five to six terrorists stormed into the police training centre at Sariyab Road and targeted at least 60 security officials after taking them hostage under the cover of aerial fire.

Inspector General of Frontier Corps Sher Afgan, in a press conference, said that the attackers were constantly in touch with their operatives in Afghanistan. He added that a search operation was launched immediately after the following attack which went on for four hours.

The officer said that the attackers had donned suicide jackets. He added that two of the militants blew themselves up while one of the attackers was killed during the operation.

IG FC went on to say that none of the under-training personnel were seriously injured but several personnel, taking part in the operation, lost their lives.

The inspector general further said that the attackers were affiliated with banned sectarian terrorist group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and were getting instructions from Afghanistan. He hinted that the attack may be an inside job as well.

Home Minister of Balochistan Sarfaraz Bugti said that the first attack was carried out at the watch tower located at the backside of the police training centre.  He added that the personnel bravely fought against the attackers but lost his life while battling them. The terrorists then managed to enter the facility.

Emergency was enforced in all medical facilities in Quetta.

Health Secretary said that that 85 of the wounded were shifted to Civil Hospital in Quetta whereas over 25 injured are currently being treated at Bolan Medical Complex whereas several others have been admitted in Combined Military Hospital Quetta.

Chief Minister of Balochistan Sanaullah Zehri has said that the provincial government had placed Quetta on high alert after receiving information that several terrorists had entered the province to carry out an attack.

“The terrorists carried out the attack located at the outskirts when they could not get an opportunity to do so inside the provincial capital,” Zehri said.

Five explosions were heard from time to time however the nature of the blasts were not determined.

It should be noted that Police, Bomb Disposal Squad and other security agencies are carrying out a search operation of the area.

Condemnations pour in

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Quetta and said that the culprits behind the act will be strongly dealt with. He instructed the victims should be given proper medical facilities and treatment.

President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain also expressed his grief over the attack and said that whole nation is with the families of the soldiers who laid their lives for the country. He added that their sacrifices will not go in vain.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that the whole country is saddened by the incident. He added that people in Quetta are collecting the bodies of their loved ones.

United States State Department Spokesman John Kirby said that the country stands with Pakistan in this difficult hour and will continue to work with the South Asian country for tackling terrorism. He extended his condolences to the families to who lost their loved ones in the terrorist attack.

UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson condemned the appalling attack. Ins a statemet, he said that his thoughts are with those who lost loved ones and friends, or were injured, in this callous attack. He said the minority seeking to undermine Pakistan’s security will not prevail, and the UK will continue support those people who are determined to build a brighter future.

Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan also condemned the incident and prayed for the recovery of the injured.

Strongly condemn cowardly terror attack on police training centre in Quetta. May Allah keep hostages safe. Prayers for recovery of injured.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 24, 2016

Inna lilahi wa’inna ilaihi raje’un. I salute the 59 cadets at the police training academy in Quetta, whose lives… https://t.co/nBadPIYppp

— Pervez Musharraf (@P_Musharraf) October 25, 2016

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chairman Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri condemned the incident in strong words and said that terrorists are enemies of humanity.

I strongly condemn the terrorist attack in #Quetta at police training centre. Terrorists are enemies of Humanity.

— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) October 24, 2016

Strongly condemn the barbaric terrorist attack in #Quetta. Prayers remain with the victims & their families. SR

— Sheikh Rashid Ahmad (@ShkhRasheed) October 25, 2016

 

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Aseef Bhutto Zardari said that she was praying for the safety of Quetta.

Praying for #Quetta

— Aseefa B Zardari (@AseefaBZ) October 24, 2016