2016 Quetta police training college attack

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.^[1][2][3] The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province claimed responsibility for the attack,^[4] and Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claimed to have collaborated with them.^[5] According to Pakistani authorities, the assailants came from Afghanistan and were in contact with their handlers there while perpetrating the attack.^[6]

Attack

Three militants entered the training centre around 11:10 pm on Tuesday 24 October,^[2][7] 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.^{[4][8][9][10]}

Three militants were killed during the attack. Two detonated suicide belts and the third was shot by police, with many of the victims being killed when the attackers detonated their belts.^[10]

Perpetrators

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.^{[11][12][13] [14]}

A senior security official said that the ISIL had "outsourced" the attack to Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.^[12] 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".^[5] Analysts said that the ISIL clearly has a presence in Pakistan and has local groups working with it.^[13]

Aftermath

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif cancelled all of his engagements and called a meeting with arms officials in Quetta.^[15][16] 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.^[17][18]

Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri revealed on November 10, 2016 the arrest of mastermind and facilitator of the attack.^[19]

Reactions

International

•  China – The Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the attack and expressed sympathies towards the families of the victims and injured saying, "China would continue to support Pakistani government in its efforts to provide protection to its citizens and national security."^[20]

•  France – Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault extends his condolences to the families of victims and said, "France presents its condolences to the families of victims in these tragic circumstances. France recalls its commitment and stands with the Pakistani authorities in front of terrorism."^[21][22]

•  Japan – Foreign Affair's press sectary Yasuhisa Kawamura, condemned the attack saying, "Japan strongly condemns such act of terrorism which targets innocent people as inexcusable," and expressed condolences to the families of victims, "Japan prays for the victims and expresses its condolences to the bereaved families. Japan also prays those injured for their earliest recovery."^[23] He also expressed his solidarity with Pakistani government saying, "Japan intends to support efforts by the government of Pakistan to combat terrorism in cooperation with the international community."^[24]

•  Germany – Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier censured the attack and said, "We condemn the gruesome attack on a police school in Quetta, which left over 60 people dead … We express our deepest condolences to all people of Pakistan."^[25]

•  India – Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar condemned the attack and said, "Let me express grief for those who lost their lives; terrorism anywhere in any form can’t be accepted."^[26][27]

•  Russia – President Vladimir Putin extended his condolences and said "The Russian head of state expressed confidence that the masterminds and performers of this barbaric crime will be punished, and reiterated Russia's readiness to further enhance anti-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan."^[28]

•  United Kingdom – Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson expressed his condolences and said, "I condemn yesterday’s appalling attack on the police training centre in Quetta, Pakistan. My thoughts are with those who lost loved ones and friends, or were injured, in this callous attack."^[29]

•  United States – State Department Spokesperson John Kirby condemned the attack and expressed solidarity saying, "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."^[30]

Supranational bodies

•  United Nations – The UN Secretary-General's Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq expressed his condolences to the family of victims on behalf of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and said, "The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Pakistan and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured." The UN chief also called "for the perpetrators of this abhorrent act of violence to be brought to justice swiftly."^[31][32]
•  European Union – The EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini condemned the terrorist attack in a statement saying, "The people of Pakistan were once again in our thoughts following last night's deadly attack on a police training centre in Quetta, which has killed at least 60 people and injured many more. As the European Union, we will continue to work closely together with Pakistan to fight the global threat of terrorism and expressed condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured."^[33]

See also

• List of Islamist terrorist attacks
• List of terrorist incidents in October 2016
• List of terrorist incidents linked to ISIL
• List of terrorist incidents linked to ISIL (IS-K)
• Terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 2016
• January 2016 Quetta suicide bombing
• August 2016 Quetta bombing
• 2014 Peshawar school massacre

References

Further reading

• Ejaz Haider, Quetta Attack: An Overall Failure, Newsweek Pakistan, 25 October 2016.
• Quetta attack: A primer on Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, who allegedly carried out strike, Firstpost, 26 October 2016.

Coordinates: 30°21′36″N 67°01′12″E / 30.3600°N 67.0200°E / 30.3600; 67.0200