At least 300 people taken hostage & dozens dead as bomb-vest wearing gunmen hijack packed train in Pakistan

A DEADLY firefight broke out between separatist militants and security forces in Pakistan after 300 people were held hostage on a hijacked train.

At least 27 militants have been killed as gunmen wearing bomb-vests stormed the train.

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300 people were held hostage on a train in Pakistan
Soldiers securing a railway station at night.
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Soldiers secure Mach railway station after Pakistani security forces freed some passengers after a hostage situationCredit: AFP
A doctor attends to a passenger injured in a train hostage situation.
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Freed passengers of the hijacked Jaffar Express arrive at Quetta Railway StationCredit: Getty

A shocking video showed the moment a group horrifically ambushed the train while passing through a tunnel in the rugged Bolan district.

Terrified passengers were taken hostage and surrounded by men wearing vests covered in explosives.

450 travellers were travelling from Quetta to Peshawar before there were taken hostage on Tuesday.

The Baloch Liberation Army group claimed responsibility for the shocking attack.

Pakistani security forced engaged in a deadly battle, that has killed at least 27 militants, to rescue more than 150 people so far.

The group said it was ready to free passengers if authorities agree to release jailed militants.

The Pakistani government has previously reject these sorts of demands and a spokesperson said helicopters were backing up to help forces in the mountainous area.

Rescued passengers were on board the doomed Jaffar Express were rushed to hospital or pictured at Quetta station.

The BLA warned there would be "severe consequences" if an attempt was made to rescue passengers.

A traumatised traveller, Ishaq Noor, described his horror ordeal, according to the BBC.

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