At least 41 police trainees were killed and more than 100 others wounded on Monday when terrorists detonated explosives and opened fire at a training center in Quetta, Pakistan.
The six gunmen belonged to Lashker-e-Jhangvi, an Islamic militant group affiliated with al Qaeda, according to Maj. Gen. Sher Afgan, chief of the paramilitary Frontier Corps. Police trainees and paramilitary troops made up the majority of those injured in the attack.
The terrorists had attempted to enter the hostel where cadets live. A gun battle erupted between the base guards and attackers. Media reports said there were two explosions, but local officials have not confirmed details about that aspect of the attack.
Approximately 700 trainees had been on base at the time of the bombing, 200 of whom were rescued following the explosions of suicide vests.
A spokesman for the State Department condemned the terrorist attack, which came hours after law enforcement officers in other parts of the country were struck by terrorists.
“We extend our condolences to the victims and their families, including the police cadets who are embarking on careers of public service,” John Kirby, assistant secretary and State Department spokesperson, said in a statement late Monday. “We stand with the people of Pakistan and Government of Pakistan at this difficult hour, and we will continue to work with our partners in Pakistan and across the region to combat the threat of terrorism.”
Earlier on Monday, two customs officers were fatally shot and another one injured outside Surab, approximately 90 miles south of Quetta. Police confirmed the gunmen had been riding motorcycles before they went after the officers.
During a third incident in the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, two gunmen on a motorcycle killed a police intelligence officer on Monday. The Pakistan Taliban later claimed responsibility for that attack.
The three attacks come as Pakistan has continued operations against militants in regions of the country that neighbor Afghanistan and throughout the nation’s cities.
