LAHORE, Pakistan | A group of gunmen, some in police uniforms, attacked a police academy Monday and held it for hours, seizing hostages, throwing grenades and killing at least six trainee officers before being overpowered by Pakistani commandos.
Four suspected militants were arrested while at least three blew themselves up in the eight-hour battle to retake the compound on the outskirts of Lahore in eastern Pakistan, said Rao Iftikhar, a top government official in Punjab province. He said three other bodies were still unidentified.
As the siege ended, black-clad Pakistani commandos fired their guns in the air in celebration at the top of the building, shouting "God is great" and "Long live Punjab police."
Officials said more than 90 officers were wounded and that some of the attackers wore police uniforms.
The highly coordinated attack underscored the threat that militancy poses to the U.S.-allied, nuclear-armed country and prompted Pakistan's top civilian security official to say that militant groups were "destabilizing the country."
The ambush on the Manawan Police Training School began as dozens of the officers carried out morning drills. About 700 trainees were inside at the time.
"We were attacked with bombs. Thick smoke surrounded us. We all ran in panic in different directions," said Mohammed Asif, a wounded officer taken to a hospital. He described the attackers as bearded and young.
Security forces had surrounded the compound, exchanging fire in televised scenes reminiscent of the militant siege in the Indian city of Mumbai in November.
Lahore was also the site of an attack on Sri Lanka's cricketers earlier this month.
On the roof of the building where hostages were kept, an AP photographer saw body parts, blood and spent ammunition strewn about, and several police officers - apparently hostages - came out with their hands above their heads in fear.
