Lahore:
After hours of gunbattle between police and terrorists, the encounter at an elite police training academy at Manavan on the outskirts Lahore is over.
Lahore was under siege battling its second terrorist attack in a month. Heavily armed militants attacked the police training academy in Manavan, just 12 km from the Wagah border.
At least 26 people have been killed in the gunbattle while 90 have been injured.
According to sources, four of the attackers were killed in the firing by security forces while six terrorists have been held alive from the scene of the crisis.
The attack comes less than a month after the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.
A blast was heard and then eight to 10 attackers entered the training centre hurling hand grenades.
As per reports, the attackers came from two sides and were wearing police uniforms.
Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Mallik has ordered a judicial inquiry in the attack. While reacting to the attack, Malik said that they would try to catch the militants alive.
"Jehadi outfits have grown so much that it will take time to control them. This is an attack on Pakistan's unity and integrity," said Malik.
Malik said Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Taliban might be behind the attacks.
Security across Pakistan has been put on high alert.
Reacting to the attack in the neighbouring country, Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt General N Thumburaj said that India is ready for any spillover.
"India is ready for any spillover. We are watching the Pakistan situation carefully," said Lt General Thumburaj, adding that Pakistan instability affects India.
India has condemned the attacks.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has said India sympathises with the Pakistan government, but no parallel of the attack can be drawn with the Mumbai attacks.
"Our sympathies are with the government and people of Pakistan. No parallel can be drawn between this and Mumbai attacks," said Chidambaram.
Trainee policemen were doing parade when the attackers came. They scaled the training centre wall and threw grenades on trainee policemen, said media reports.
As per the reports, around 1500 cadets, who were inside the training camp, were held hostage by the attackers.
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the attack.
Parallels are being drawn with the recent attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.