Deadly Quetta attack: Militants kill dozens at Balochistan Police College

At least 58 cadets and guards are killed after militants attacked a police college officials say.

Three militants entered the college late on Monday, apparently taking hostages.

A major security operation lasted for hours and all attackers were killed.

No group has said they carried out the assault, but Quetta has seen similar attacks in the past couple of years by Islamist militants and separatists.

Countless trainees were evacuated from Balochistan Police College as troops arrived to repel the militants. At least three explosions were reported by local media .

“I saw three guys in camouflage whose faces were hidden carrying Kalashnikovs,” one cadet said according to AFP news agency.

The exact sequence of events is cloudy but there was intermittent exchange of fire between the attackers and security forces based on Dawn paper. There were also reports of a hostage situation.

More than 100 individuals, were injured.

After detonating their bomb vests two of the militants died and security forces killed one.

Officials blamed a faction of the Lashker e Jhangvi militant group and said the attackers “were in communication with operatives in Afghanistan”.

Quetta is the capital of Balochistan province, which can be fighting Islamist militants as well as an insurgency, with violent attacks common.

Earlier in the day, two customs officers were shot dead and another critically wounded in Surab, south of Quetta.

88 people were killed in separate bomb attacks targeting attorneys and a hospital in Quetta.

The Pakistani military has been conducting military operations against militants in explosive tribal areas near the Afghan border.