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Taliban storm a public school in Pakistan Taliban storm a public school in Pakistan
(35 minutes later)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan --- Taliban militants stormed a public school in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least 13 students and perhaps taking hundreds of other students and teachers hostage, according to Pakistani security and hospital officials. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan --- Taliban militants stormed an elite public school in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least 13 students and perhaps taking hundreds of other students and teachers hostage, according to Pakistani security and hospital officials.
The siege began about midday local time at an army-run high school at a Pakistan military installation in Peshawar.The siege began about midday local time at an army-run high school at a Pakistan military installation in Peshawar.
According to military officials, as many as six terrorists shot their way into the school after scaling a wall.According to military officials, as many as six terrorists shot their way into the school after scaling a wall.
Hundreds of Pakistani army and police officials raced to the scene, and sporadic gunfire and explosions could be heard on school grounds. Khalid Lateef, a doctor at Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, said at least 13 students have been killed and more than two dozen students and teachers have been wounded. Hundreds of Pakistani army and police officials raced to the scene, and sporadic gunfire and explosions could be heard on school grounds.
Khalid Lateef, a doctor at Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, said at least 13 students had been killed and more than two dozen students and teachers wounded. Mushtag Ghani, the information minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said at least 18 schoolchildren had been killed. Many of them appear to be the children of Pakistani military officers, he said.
There were also reports that the gunmen remain in the school and are holding as many as 500 people hostage.There were also reports that the gunmen remain in the school and are holding as many as 500 people hostage.
In a statement, Pakistan’s military said “the bulk of the students and staff have been evacuated.”In a statement, Pakistan’s military said “the bulk of the students and staff have been evacuated.”
But military officials added that they continued to engage the militants holed up inside the school. Some students who had been in the school reported seeing numerous dead bodies in the hallways.But military officials added that they continued to engage the militants holed up inside the school. Some students who had been in the school reported seeing numerous dead bodies in the hallways.
In a statement, the Pakistani Taliban took credit for the attack, saying it was to avenge the Pakistan military operation in North Waziristan. The Taliban said six militants, including three suicide bombers, carried out the attack. Information Minister Ghani said the terrorists immediately began shooting students when they entered the school through a back door.
“They started firing at students participating in a function at the auditorium,” Ghani told local journalists gathered at the scene. “The terrorists wanted to kill as many people as they could and they seemed to be not interested in hostage taking.”
Ahsam Mukhtar, a student at the school, said he was in a classroom when the assault started.
“Our teacher told us to lie on the ground, but the firing went on and it was very loud.” Mukhtar said in a televised interview. “Then the army came and took us out of the classrooms. In the corridor, I saw dead bodies with bullet injuries in the head. Some had wounds in their arms. I also saw our mathematics teacher lying injured on the floor.”
Pakistan media outlets were airing footage of students being carried into Lady Reading Hospital as grieving parents hovered over hospital beds.Pakistan media outlets were airing footage of students being carried into Lady Reading Hospital as grieving parents hovered over hospital beds.
In a statement, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack and said those behind it will “not be spared,” according to Pakistan’s Express Tribune newspaper. In a statement, the Pakistani Taliban took credit for the attack, saying it was to avenge the Pakistan military operation in North Waziristan. The Taliban said six militants, including three suicide bombers, carried out the assault.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack in a statement and said those behind it will “not be spared,” according to Pakistan’s Express Tribune newspaper.
The attack shatters what had been a period relative calm in Pakistan.The attack shatters what had been a period relative calm in Pakistan.
In June, Pakistan’s army launched a major operation against Islamic militants in the country’s resistive tribal areas. Since then, the number of attacks inside the country have sharply declined, but the Pakistani Taliban had been warning for months that it would retaliate. In June, Pakistan’s army launched a major operation against Islamic militants in the country’s restive tribal areas. Since then, the number of attacks inside the country have sharply declined, but the Pakistani Taliban had been warning for months that it would retaliate.
Last month, a suicide bombing killed more than 50 people during a military ceremony at the main public crossing between Pakistan and India.Last month, a suicide bombing killed more than 50 people during a military ceremony at the main public crossing between Pakistan and India.
Aimir Iqbal, Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar and Shaig Hussain in Islamabad contributed to this report.Aimir Iqbal, Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar and Shaig Hussain in Islamabad contributed to this report.