PESHAWAR, Pakistan: At least 104 children were killed while over 80 sustained injuries when up to eight militants wearing military uniform stormed Army Public School Peshawar on Wasrak Road on Tuesday, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak said and also announced a three-day mourning.
Mostly students are children of army officials of Peshawar cantonment.
The outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack while its spokesman Muhammad Khurasani said that attack on the army public School Warsak was in response to military operations in North Waziristan and Khyber agencies.
“They include target killers and suicide attackers. They have been ordered to shoot the older students but not the children,” Khurasani told a foreign news agency.
Shocked at attack on school in Peshawar. Strongly condemn this inhuman act of utter barbarism.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 16, 2014
We condemn horrific attack on innocent school children in Peshawar.
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) December 16, 2014
The sources said that the injured children who were shifted to combined military hospital and lady reading hospital in Peshawar for medical treatment. An emergency was declared in the lady reading hospital.
The reports said that gunfire continues between the militants and the security forces during which a Pakistani soldier and three attackers killed.
The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that a large number of teachers and children have been recovered safely while about 500 students and teachers are believed to be inside the school.
The reports said that some militants are still inside the school and holding the staff as well as children hostage.
A teacher in the army public school in Peshawar confirmed that a suicide bomber blew himself after attacking school.
A heavy contingent of police and security forces immediately rushed to the Peshawar army public school after gunfire report.
The security forces cordoned off the area while parents of school children and media were barred from going closer to school.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have strongly condemned the attack and instructed the forces to prioritize safe recovery of hostages from Peshawar school.
The prime minister has left for Peshawar to supervise the operation himself.
