25 killed in gunmen attack in Pakistan -- china.org.cn

At least 25 people were killed and 90 others injured when unidentified gunmen attacked a police training school in eastern Pakistan city of Lahore on Monday, local television quoted police sources as saying.

The gunmen threw hand grenade to the training school before exchange of fire between police and gunmen began at the police training center in Manawan area of Lahore, capital of eastern Punjab province.

Pakistani rescue workers carries an injured policeman in Lahore. At least 25 people were killed and 90 others injured when unidentified gunmen attacked a police training school in eastern Pakistan city of Lahore on Monday, police said.[Xinhua/AFP Photo]

Pakistan state television reported that a suspect in police uniform was taken into custody when he was trying to come out of the building.

But Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik denied the report, saying that there is no arrest of the terrorists to his knowledge.

The attackers who reportedly took hostage some policemen are taking positions inside the police training center to exchange fire with the policemen.

The TV grab on March 30, 2009 shows Pakistani rescue workers carries an injured policeman in Lahore. At least 25 people were killed and 90 others injured when unidentified gunmen attacked a police training school in eastern Pakistan city of Lahore on Monday, police said.

The firing is still going on at press time. At least 25 persons were killed and 90 others were injured in the attack, private Geo TV channel quoted police as saying.

TV footage showed that the policemen are crawling on the ground to avoid bullets near the training school, and some policemen are on high alert hiding behind the walls of the training school.

Snipers are also arranged on the nearby rooftop.

Some injured policemen were put on stretchers and sent to nearby hospitals.

Reports said Pakistan's commando, paramilitary forces and police are arriving at the spot for assistance, a contingent of police has already entered into police training school.

Security has been put on high alert across the country and more contingents of armed police have been sent to the area, Malik told a TV channel.

Malik said that at least 10 attackers are present in police training facility, jihadi outfits and foreign element could be involved in the "well-planned and organized attack".

Around 400 police trainees are inside the training school.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusaf Raza Gilani on Monday strongly condemned the attack.

This is the second gunmen attack within the month in Lahore, the second largest city of Pakistan.

The terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricket team on March 3 killed at least seven people, including five policemen, and injured 19 others.

Television footage showed a chaotic scene around the police training facility in Lahore. At least 25 people were killed and 90 others injured when unidentified gunmen attacked a police training school in eastern Pakistan city of Lahore on Monday, police said.[Xinhua/AFP Photo]

Pakistan police have so far failed to arrest any of the attackers. Only some who had allegedly helped the terrorists were detained.

It is yet known if there is any link between the two attacks.

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2009)