Attack on Pak police training academy

LAHORE: At least 15 police men were killed and 30 others injured when a group of heavily armed gunmen attacked a police training centre near the Wagah border and took an unspecified number hostages.

Donning police uniforms, the assailants believed to be around 10-14 in number stormed the complex around 7 a.m, opening indiscriminate fire and lobbing grenades when about 800 trainee policemen were present in the premises.

The attack comes barely a month after the audacious strike on Sri Lankan cricketers on March three in the city that left eight persons dead and 20 injured.

Witnesses and TV channels said that a series of at least five blasts were heard at the training centre at Manawan, located near the Wagah border, and the explosions were followed by an exchange of fire between the attackers and policemen that was continuing even after three hours.

Bodies of policemen were strewn on the ground and more casualties were feared. Dozens of police were also seen scaling a wall to escape from within the centre. Most of the casualties occurred near the gate of the centre.