View source for 2016 Quetta police training college attack

{{Short description|2016 terrorist attack in Quetta, Pakistan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Quetta police training college attack
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| image = 2016 Quetta police training college attack.jpg
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| location = Balochistan Police College, [[Quetta]], [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]], Pakistan
| target = Police training centre
| coordinates = 
| date = 24 October 2016
| time = 
| timezone = 
| type = [[Mass shooting]], [[suicide bombing]], [[hostage-taking]]
| fatalities = 62
| injuries = 165+
| victims = <!-- or | victim = -->
| perpetrators = [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province]]<br>[[Lashkar-e-Jhangvi]]
| assailants = <!-- or | assailant = -->
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| numparts = 3 
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{{Terrorist attacks in Pakistan}}
<!-- Per MOS:BOLDTITLE and WP:SBE, neither the article's title nor related text appears in bold. -->On 24 October 2016, three heavily armed terrorists carried out an attack on the [[Balochistan]] [[Balochistan Police|police]] training college in [[Quetta]], [[Pakistan]], killing 61 cadets and injuring more than 165 others.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> The [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province]] claimed responsibility for the attack,<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=Quetta attack survivor: 'We were sleeping when terrorists attacked'|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/24/world/pakistan-police-academy-attack/index.html|publisher=CNN|access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref> and Pakistan-based [[Lashkar-e-Jhangvi]] claimed to have collaborated with them.<ref name=collaborated/> According to Pakistani authorities, the assailants came from [[Afghanistan]] and were in contact with their handlers there while perpetrating the attack.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Attack==
Three militants entered the training centre around 11:10&nbsp;pm on Tuesday 24 October,<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="bbc">{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref name="bbc" />

==Perpetrators==
Pakistan's national security advisor [[Naseer Khan Janjua]] stated to U.S. ambassador [[David Hale (diplomat)|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.<ref name="The Nation">{{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}}</ref><ref name="Dawn">{{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}}</ref>

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 News Agency|Amaq]] media wing. It also released the photos of the claimed attackers.<ref name=CNN>
[http://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.
</ref><ref name=NYT>
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.
</ref><ref name=Reuters>
{{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 |agency=Reuters}}</ref>
<ref name=Diplomat>
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.
</ref>

A senior security official said that the ISIL had "outsourced" the attack to Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.<ref name=NYT/>
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".<ref name=collaborated>
[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.
</ref> Analysts said that the ISIL clearly has a presence in Pakistan and has local groups working with it.<ref name=Reuters/>

==Aftermath==
Prime Minister [[Nawaz Sharif]] cancelled all of his engagements and called a meeting with arms officials in Quetta.<ref>{{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|publisher=Dunya News|access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> Pakistan's national security advisor [[Naseer Khan Janjua]] stated to U.S. ambassador [[David Hale (diplomat)|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.<ref name="The Nation"/><ref name="Dawn"/>

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

==Reactions==
===International===
The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China|Chinese Foreign Ministry]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> French Foreign Minister [[Jean-Marc Ayrault]],<ref>{{cite web|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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan)|Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affair]],<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> German Minister of Foreign Affairs [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]],{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} Indian Defence Minister [[Manohar Parrikar]],<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> Russia President [[Vladimir Putin]],{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} British Foreign Secretary [[Boris Johnson]],{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} United States [[Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs|State Department Spokesperson]] [[John Kirby (admiral)|John Kirby]] all condemned the attack and expressed their solidarity with Pakistan.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

The United Nations<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==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==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Ejaz Haider, Quetta Attack: An Overall Failure, Newsweek Pakistan, 25 October 2016.
* [http://www.firstpost.com/world/quetta-attack-a-primer-on-lashkar-e-jhangvi-who-allegedly-carried-out-strike-3073482.html Quetta attack: A primer on Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, who allegedly carried out strike], Firstpost, 26 October 2016.

{{Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Quetta police station attack, 2016}}

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[[Category:21st-century mass murder in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Hostage taking in Pakistan]]
[[Category:ISIL terrorist incidents in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 2016]]
[[Category:Mass murder in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Massacres in Pakistan]]
[[Category:October 2016 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:October 2016 events in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Quetta]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 2016]]
[[Category:Spree shootings in Pakistan]]
[[Category:History of Balochistan, Pakistan (1947–present)]]
[[Category:Balochistan Police]]
[[Category:2016 murders in Pakistan]]