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Pakistani troops say they have taken control of a police academy after unidentified attackers had overrun the facility, killing up to 50 people and taking many officers hostage.
The surprise attack early on Monday on the outskirts of the eastern city of Lahore triggered several hours of heavy fighting between security forces and the assailants.
Private Pakistani television channels aired images of troops celebrating on the rooftop of a building in the police compound after the fighting ended.
Security officials said at least four of the attackers were killed and another six seized during the operation.
"The operation is over. It was a good operation led by security forces, elite commandos, police and army units," Major General Athar Abbas, a military spokesman, said.
Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder reported that as many as 800 people were believed to be in the police building when the attack began.
The attack on the academy also left 100 policemen wounded.
Police disguises
A security official said the police officers were preparing for training when the attack began.
Witnesses said that some of the attackers had entered the academy disguised as police officers.
"A grenade hit the platoon next to ours ... then there was continuous firing for about 20 minutes," one wounded police officer said.
"A man in light-colored clothes - I think they were white - stood in front of us, firing at us. They wanted to do as much damage as possible."
The attackers reportedly hurled grenades at the police and TV footage showed several police officers bleeding and lying on the ground.
"It is a planned, organized, terrorist attack. This shows the extent to which the enemies of our country can go," Rehman Malik, the interior ministry chief, said.
"The question is - from where they are getting grenades, guns and rocket launchers in such a large number?" he said.
'Ill-preparedness'
Imtiaz Gul, a Pakistani political analyst, said the attack underscored the "ill-preparedness" of police and paramilitary forces in the country.
"The kind of attack that took place is very, very difficult to pre-empt. There are people who came prepared to kill. On the other side, you see the kind of response from paramilitary forces.
"The entire country has been paying the price for this ill-preparedness," he said.
PHOTO CAPTION
Policemen stand guard outside a police training centre after it was attacked by fighters in Lahore on March 30, 2009.
Al-Jazeera
