Official: 33 police trainees killed in attack in southwestern Pakistan

Four to six gunmen opened fire as they attacked a hostel at the police training center in a suburban area of the provincial capital of Quetta

October 24, 2016 07:35 PM

A Pakistani volunteer and a police officer rush an injured person to a hospital in Quetta, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 24, 2016, after two separate attacks in Pakistan. Gunmen stormed a police training center in the restive southwestern province of Baluchistan Monday, leaving several people wounded, hours after another attack near to Quetta leaving two customs officers dead, authorities said.

Associated Press

QUETTA, Pakistan — A government official says 33 police trainees were killed when gunmen attacked a hostel at a police training center in Pakistan’s restive southwestern Baluchistan province.

Baluchistan’s top health official, Noor Haq Baloch, said at least 106 people were wounded — mostly police trainees and some paramilitary troops.

Hag said many of the trainees died when the gunmen detonated explosive vests.

Home minister Sarfaraz Bugti said one of the attackers was killed by security forces and two detonated their explosive vests. He said security forces have completed their operation but are still engaged in the cleanup process.

Major Gen Sher Afgan, chief of the paramilitary Frontier Corps, told reporters that the attackers appeared to be in contact with handlers in Afghanistan.