Police chief among 20 killed in terrorist attack on Afghan police training centre

KHOST - At least 20 people were killed and several injured after suicide attackers and gunmen stormed a police training centre in southeastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, local media reported.

According to ToloNews, Toryalai Abdyani, the police chief for Paktia province, has also been killed in the attack in Gardiz, capital of Paktia province, some kilometers away Kharlachi area of Pakistan. The site is located near the Paktia police headquarters.

According to international media, women, students and police officials are also among the deceased.

A fighting between assailants and security forces is underway at the time of reporting inside the training centre in Gardiz, capital of Paktia province, some kilometers away Kharlachi area of Pakistan. The site is located near the Paktia police headquarters.

On the other hand, the Taliban claimed the responsibility of the attack in a tweet.

According to the officials, the attackers exploded an explosive-filled car near the entrance of the centre to facilitate a group of man to enter the premises and launch their assault.

“At the moment the area is sealed by the Crisis Response Unit and efforts are ongoing to eliminate the terrorists,” NDTV quoted interior ministry's statement.

In June 2017, the Taliban carried out an attack with the same style at police headquarter in the same city Gardez, killing dozens of people and leaving scores injured.