:2016 Quetta police training college attack

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = Quetta police training college attack

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| location = Balochistan Police College, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan

| target = Police training centre

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| date = 24 October 2016

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| type = Mass shooting, suicide bombing, hostage-taking

| fatalities = 62

| injuries = 165+

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| perpetrators = {{flagicon|ISIS}} Islamic State – Khorasan Province
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi

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| numparts = 3

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On 24 October 2016, three heavily armed terrorists carried out an attack on the Balochistan police training college in Quetta, Pakistan, killing 61 cadets and injuring more than 165 others.{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1291999/60-killed-in-twin-suicide-attacks-as-terrorists-storm-police-training-college-in-quetta|title=60 killed in twin suicide attacks as terrorists storm police training college in Quetta|first1= Syed Ali|last1=Shah|first2= Hafeezullah|last2=Sherani|date=24 October 2016|work=Dawn|access-date=25 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1208735/militants-attack-police-training-centre-quetta/|title=61 killed, at least 165 injured as militants storm police training centre in Quetta|date=24 October 2016|work=The Express Tribune|access-date=25 October 2016}}{{cite web|title=At Least 61 Die as Militants Storm Police College Near Quetta, Pakistan|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/25/world/asia/quetta-police-militants-attack.html|work=The New York Times|date=25 October 2016|access-date=25 October 2016}} The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province claimed responsibility for the attack,{{cite web|title=Quetta attack survivor: 'We were sleeping when terrorists attacked'|date=24 October 2016 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/24/world/pakistan-police-academy-attack/index.html|publisher=CNN|access-date=25 October 2016}} and Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claimed to have collaborated with them. According to Pakistani authorities, the assailants came from Afghanistan and were in contact with their handlers there while perpetrating the attack.{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1292349/assailants-came-from-afghanistan-pm-told |title=Assailants came from Afghanistan, PM told|work=Dawn|date=26 October 2016|access-date=26 October 2016}}

Attack

Three militants entered the training centre around 11:10 pm on Tuesday 24 October,{{cite web|url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/At-least-60-killed-over-100-injured-in-Pak-police-academy-attack/articleshow/55042406.cms |title=At least 60 killed, over 100 injured in Pak police academy attack|date=25 October 2016|work=The Times of India|access-date=25 October 2016}} while cadets were sleeping, and opened fire before taking hundreds of police cadets hostage and engaging in a standoff with security forces. At least 61 people were killed and over 165 people were injured as well.{{cite web|title=Quetta attack death toll rises to 61, over 165 injured|url=http://www.samaa.tv/pakistan/2016/10/quetta-attack-death-toll-rises-to-61-over-160-injured/|website=samaa.tv|publisher=Samaa Web Desk|access-date=25 October 2016}}{{cite news|title=Quetta police college attack leaves dozens dead|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37757914|work=BBC News |access-date=24 October 2016}}

All the three gunmen were killed during the attack. Two detonated suicide belts and the third was shot by police. Many of the victims were killed when the attackers detonated their belts.

=Captain Roohullah Mohmand=

Captain Roohullah neutralized one suicide bomber and tackled another, who detonated his explosives, killing Captain Roohullah instantly. His courageous action saved numerous lives, as many cadets were able to escape the attack.{{Cite web|title=Roohullah: A hero's story from Quetta|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1292386|website=Dawn|date=26 October 2016 |access-date=2024-10-25}}

His heroic sacrifice earned him the Tamgha-i-Jurat, Pakistan's fourth-highest military honor.{{Cite web|title=Tribute to Captain Roohullah Mohmand|url=https://www.hilal.gov.pk/view-article.php?i=2509|website=Hilal|access-date=2024-10-25}}

Captain Roohullah is remembered as a national hero in Pakistan for his sacrifice.{{Cite web|title=Fallen soldier honoured for bravery|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1210387/fallen-soldier-honoured-bravery|website=The Express Tribune|date=25 October 2016 |access-date=2024-10-25}}

Perpetrators

Pakistan's national security advisor Naseer Khan Janjua stated to U.S. ambassador David Hale that India's Research and Analysis Wing and Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS) were "patronising" terrorist organisations on attacking soft targets in Pakistan, and emphasised the need for effective action against militant elements in Afghanistan linked to the attack.{{cite news|url=http://nation.com.pk/national/26-Oct-2016/raw-nds-patronising-terror-groups-in-afghanistan|title=RAW, NDS patronising terror groups in Afghanistan|work=The Nation|date=26 October 2016|access-date=26 October 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1292399/ |title=RAW, NDS patronising terror groups in Afghanistan, national security adviser tells US envoy|work=Dawn|date=26 October 2016|access-date=26 October 2016}}

Maj. Gen. Sher Afgan, the chief of the Frontier Corps in Quetta, said that a faction of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a Pakistan-based sectarian Sunni group, was believed to have carried out the attack. Shortly afterwards, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province (ISIL) claimed responsibility via its Amaq media wing. It also released the photos of the claimed attackers.

[https://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/24/world/pakistan-police-academy-attack/?sr=google_news Quetta attack survivor: 'We were sleeping when terrorists attacked'], CNN, 25 October 2016.

Salman Masood, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/26/world/asia/quetta-attack-isis-pakistan.html?_r=0 Pakistan Reels After Attack on Police Training College Leaves 61 Dead], The New York Times, 25 October 2016.

{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-attack-idUSKCN12O2M6 |title=Islamic State claims attack on Pakistan police academy, 59 dead |date=25 October 2016 |access-date=25 October 2016 |work=Reuters}}

Kunwar Khuldune Shahid, [https://thediplomat.com/2016/10/quetta-police-college-attack-pakistan-is-increasingly-vulnerable-to-terrorism/ Quetta Police College Attack: Pakistan Is Increasingly Vulnerable to Terrorism], The Diplomat, 25 October 2016.

A senior security official said that the ISIL had "outsourced" the attack to Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

A spokesman of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi faction Al-Alami subsequently told Reuters that the two groups (Al-Alami and ISIL) had "done this attack together".

[http://nation.com.pk/national/26-Oct-2016/lej-collaborated-with-isis-for-quetta-attack LeJ 'collaborated with ISIS' for Quetta attack], The Nation, 26 October 2016.

Analysts said that the ISIL clearly has a presence in Pakistan and has local groups working with it.

Aftermath

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif cancelled all of his engagements and called a meeting with arms officials in Quetta.{{cite web|url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/358213-PM-postpones-all-engagements-after-Quetta-police-a|title=PM postpones all engagements after Quetta police academy attack|date=14 February 2008 |publisher=Dunya News|access-date=25 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/159798-PM-Nawaz-to-chair-security-meeting-in-Quetta|title=PPM Nawaz to chair security meeting in Quetta|work=The News International|access-date=25 October 2016}} Pakistan's national security advisor Naseer Khan Janjua stated to U.S. ambassador David Hale that India's Research and Analysis Wing and Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS) were "patronising" terrorist organisations on attacking soft targets in Pakistan, and emphasised the need for effective action against militant elements in Afghanistan linked to the attack.

Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri revealed on 10 November 2016 the arrest of mastermind and facilitator of the attack.{{cite web|url=http://www.express.pk/story/650296/|title=CM Balochistan announces arrest of mastermind|date=10 November 2016 }}

Reactions

=International=

The Chinese Foreign Ministry,{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/159829-China-condemns-terrorist-attack-in-Quetta|title=China condemns terrorist attack in Quetta|work=The News International|date=25 October 2016|access-date=28 October 2016}} French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault,{{cite news|url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/france-condemns-attack-on-quetta-police-training-centre/|title=France condemns attack on Quetta police training centre|work=Daily Pakistan|date=25 October 2016|access-date=28 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.brecorder.com/pakistan/general-news/324873-france-condemns-terrorist-attack-in-quetta.html|title=France condemns attack on Quetta|work=Business Recorder|date=25 October 2016|access-date=28 October 2016|archive-date=27 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027132516/http://www.brecorder.com/pakistan/general-news/324873-france-condemns-terrorist-attack-in-quetta.html|url-status=dead}} Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affair,{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/141273-Japan-condemn-terrorist-attacks-QuettafromNewsdog=1|title=Japan condemn the terrorist attacks in Quetta|work=The News International|date=25 October 2016|access-date=28 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.app.com.pk/japan-condemns-quetta-terrorist-attack/|title=Japan condemns Quetta terrorist attack|publisher=Associated Press of Pakistan|date=25 October 2016|access-date=28 October 2016|archive-date=28 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028153059/http://www.app.com.pk/japan-condemns-quetta-terrorist-attack/|url-status=dead}} German Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier,{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar,{{cite web|url=http://www.samaa.tv/international/2016/10/indian-defence-minister-reacts-to-quetta-attack/|title=Indian defence minister denounces Quetta terror attack|date=25 October 2016|access-date=26 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/118761-Indian-defence-minister-denounces-Quetta-terror-atta|title= Indian defence minister reacts to Quetta attack|publisher=Geo News|date=25 October 2016|access-date=26 October 2016}} Russia President Vladimir Putin,{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson,{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} United States State Department Spokesperson John Kirby all condemned the attack and expressed their solidarity with Pakistan.{{cite web|url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/358192-US-condemns-terrorist-attack-in-Quetta|title=US condemns terrorist attack in Quetta|date=25 October 2016|publisher=Dunya News|access-date=25 October 2016}}

The United Nations{{cite web|url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/un-chief-condemns-attack-on-quetta-police-academy/|title=UN chief condemns attack on Quetta police academy|first=Haider|last=Ali Sindhu|date=26 October 2016| work =Daily Pakistan|access-date=26 October 2016}}{{cite web|title=Statement attributable spokesperson secretary general attack police|url= https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2016-10-25/statement-attributable-spokesman-secretary-general-attack-police|publisher=United Nations|date=26 October 2016|access-date=28 October 2016}} and the European Union condemned the terrorist attack, and pledged to "work closely together with Pakistan to fight the global threat of terrorism and expressed condolences to the families of the victims."{{cite web|title=High Representative of EU Condemns Quetta Terrorist Attack|url=http://www.pakistanpoint.com/en/pakistan/news/high-representative-of-eu-condemns-quetta-ter-50201.html}}