Two terror groups claim Pakistan attack

Two terror groups have claimed responsibility for last night’s attack in southwestern Pakistan that killed 61 people and wounded 123 others. Most of the victims were police academy cadets, although some paramilitary forces also died during the four-hour siege in Quetta. The carnage started overnight, when three attackers stormed the training facility barracks while cadets slept. Two of the attackers blew themselves up. The third held rescue forces at bay for hours before he was gunned down. A little-known breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban, known as the Hakimullah group, first claimed responsibility, but Pakistani officials say they doubt the group is capable of staging such a spectacular assault. Later this morning, Islamic State (ISIS) militants also claimed responsibility. Although ISIS could have coordinated the attack, the statement issued by its media arm did not offer any previously unknown details, leading officials to question whether the group really had a hand in it.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.