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| Over 100 children believed killed in Taliban attack on Pakistan school | Over 100 children believed killed in Taliban attack on Pakistan school |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More than 100 children are feared dead after a Taliban attack on an army-run school in the Pakistani city of Peshawar that officials said had killed as many as 126 people. | |
| Militants wearing army uniforms led the attack on the school, which teaches the children of military personnel and civilians. Hundreds of children were thought to be present when the attack began. | Militants wearing army uniforms led the attack on the school, which teaches the children of military personnel and civilians. Hundreds of children were thought to be present when the attack began. |
| A police official said 104 children had been killed and 100 injured. “Some of the injured are critical so the death toll could rise,” he said. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility. | A police official said 104 children had been killed and 100 injured. “Some of the injured are critical so the death toll could rise,” he said. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility. |
| Fighting continued in the school more than four hours after the attack began. The provincial government said there were a series of explosions after 3.30pm local time. Police were struggling to hold back distraught parents trying to break past a cordon and get to the school when the three loud explosions went off. | Fighting continued in the school more than four hours after the attack began. The provincial government said there were a series of explosions after 3.30pm local time. Police were struggling to hold back distraught parents trying to break past a cordon and get to the school when the three loud explosions went off. |
| #PeshawarAttacks continue: #PakArmy Operation in progress. 1 more terrorist commits suicide bombing | #PeshawarAttacks continue: #PakArmy Operation in progress. 1 more terrorist commits suicide bombing |
| In a sign of the scale of the attack, the Lady Reading hospital put out an appeal for blood. | In a sign of the scale of the attack, the Lady Reading hospital put out an appeal for blood. |
| Dr Abdul Wahab, the head of the emergency department, said 26 bodies were brought in, most of whom were children. There were also up to 100 injured people, again mostly children, with bullet wounds and shrapnel damage, he said. | Dr Abdul Wahab, the head of the emergency department, said 26 bodies were brought in, most of whom were children. There were also up to 100 injured people, again mostly children, with bullet wounds and shrapnel damage, he said. |
| “There are hundreds and hundreds of people [here] to donate blood. The hospital is full of people looking for their loved ones,” he said. | “There are hundreds and hundreds of people [here] to donate blood. The hospital is full of people looking for their loved ones,” he said. |
| Details were sketchy in the unfolding situation and it was unclear what was going on inside. Around 500 students and teachers were believed to be present. | Details were sketchy in the unfolding situation and it was unclear what was going on inside. Around 500 students and teachers were believed to be present. |
| Gunfire and helicopters were heard outside the school as troops surrounded the building and ambulances carried the wounded to hospital. | Gunfire and helicopters were heard outside the school as troops surrounded the building and ambulances carried the wounded to hospital. |
| Waqar-Ullah Khattack, one of four teachers invigilating an exam at the school, said he and colleagues immediately told students to get down on the floor when they heard AK47 rounds and grenade blasts at 11am. | Waqar-Ullah Khattack, one of four teachers invigilating an exam at the school, said he and colleagues immediately told students to get down on the floor when they heard AK47 rounds and grenade blasts at 11am. |
| After less than an hour they were led to safety by commandos, past the bodies of at least seven dead children. “I have no words for this type of terrorism because we are all just too mentally upset,” he said. | After less than an hour they were led to safety by commandos, past the bodies of at least seven dead children. “I have no words for this type of terrorism because we are all just too mentally upset,” he said. |
| The army said in a statement that many hostages had been evacuated but did not say how many. | The army said in a statement that many hostages had been evacuated but did not say how many. |
| “Rescue operation by troops under way. Exchange of fire continues. Bulk of student(s) and staff evacuated. Reports of some children and teachers killed by terrorist,” the army said in a brief English-language statement. A spokesman said troops were carrying out a “clearance” operation in the school. | “Rescue operation by troops under way. Exchange of fire continues. Bulk of student(s) and staff evacuated. Reports of some children and teachers killed by terrorist,” the army said in a brief English-language statement. A spokesman said troops were carrying out a “clearance” operation in the school. |
| The Pakistani prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, said the attack was a “national tragedy”, as he left for Peshawar. | |
| PM #NawazSharif has arrived in #Peshawar on an emergency visit http://t.co/3JMqrAQXdm pic.twitter.com/7a8sUtF7WP | PM #NawazSharif has arrived in #Peshawar on an emergency visit http://t.co/3JMqrAQXdm pic.twitter.com/7a8sUtF7WP |
| The attack began in the morning hours, with the gunmen entering the school and shooting at random, said a police officer, Javed Khan. Army commandos quickly arrived at the scene and exchanged fire with the gunmen, he said. | The attack began in the morning hours, with the gunmen entering the school and shooting at random, said a police officer, Javed Khan. Army commandos quickly arrived at the scene and exchanged fire with the gunmen, he said. |
| Provincial information minister Mushtaq Ghani said many of the dead were killed in a suicide blast. | Provincial information minister Mushtaq Ghani said many of the dead were killed in a suicide blast. |
| Mudassar Abbas, a physics laboratory assistant at the school, said some students were celebrating at a party when the attack began. | Mudassar Abbas, a physics laboratory assistant at the school, said some students were celebrating at a party when the attack began. |
| “I saw six or seven people walking class-to-class and opening fire on children,” he said. | “I saw six or seven people walking class-to-class and opening fire on children,” he said. |
| A student who survived the attack said soldiers came to rescue students during a lull in the firing. | A student who survived the attack said soldiers came to rescue students during a lull in the firing. |
| “When we were coming out of the class we saw dead bodies of our friends lying in the corridors. They were bleeding. Some were shot three times, some four times,” the student said. | “When we were coming out of the class we saw dead bodies of our friends lying in the corridors. They were bleeding. Some were shot three times, some four times,” the student said. |
| “The men entered the rooms one by one and started indiscriminate firing at the staff and students.” | “The men entered the rooms one by one and started indiscriminate firing at the staff and students.” |
| The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack. | The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack. |
| It comes as the Pakistani military wages a major offensive against Taliban and other militants in the tribal area of North Waziristan. The Pakistani Taliban, who are fighting to topple the government and set up a strict Islamic state, have vowed to step up attacks against Pakistani targets in response. | It comes as the Pakistani military wages a major offensive against Taliban and other militants in the tribal area of North Waziristan. The Pakistani Taliban, who are fighting to topple the government and set up a strict Islamic state, have vowed to step up attacks against Pakistani targets in response. |
| India condemned the attack with the home minister, Rajnath Singh, saying it exposed the “real face of terrorism”. | India condemned the attack with the home minister, Rajnath Singh, saying it exposed the “real face of terrorism”. |
| My heart goes out to the families of those children who got killed by the terrorists in Peshwar. I express my condolences to those families | My heart goes out to the families of those children who got killed by the terrorists in Peshwar. I express my condolences to those families |
| The British prime minister, David Cameron, said he was horrified by the attack. | The British prime minister, David Cameron, said he was horrified by the attack. |
| PM: The news from Pakistan is deeply shocking. It’s horrifying that children are being killed simply for going to school. | PM: The news from Pakistan is deeply shocking. It’s horrifying that children are being killed simply for going to school. |