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| Pakistani forces reclaim school after ‘horrific’ Taliban attack kills at least 141 | Pakistani forces reclaim school after ‘horrific’ Taliban attack kills at least 141 |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Taliban gunmen stormed an elite army high school Tuesday in a killing spree that claimed at least 141 lives — nearly all students — and turned the streets into a frenzy of grieving, anger and calls to strike back harder against militants. | |
| After a nearly nine-hour battle in Peshawar — in northwest Pakistan near the Afghan border — police officials said all seven militants had been killed. | After a nearly nine-hour battle in Peshawar — in northwest Pakistan near the Afghan border — police officials said all seven militants had been killed. |
| Maj. Gen. Asim Bajwa, an army spokesman, then gave the latest death toll: 132 students and nine teachers or staff members. The attackers, Bajwa said, sought “to inflict maximum harm” and took no hostages. | Maj. Gen. Asim Bajwa, an army spokesman, then gave the latest death toll: 132 students and nine teachers or staff members. The attackers, Bajwa said, sought “to inflict maximum harm” and took no hostages. |
| Hundreds of people were wounded, some seriously. It was possible the death figures could rise amid carnage that brought swift global condemnation. | |
| “A house of learning turned into a house of unspeakable horror,” said Secretary of State John F. Kerry in a statement from London. | “A house of learning turned into a house of unspeakable horror,” said Secretary of State John F. Kerry in a statement from London. |
| Pakistani army convoys drove from the scene even as families wept on the streets or carried plywood coffins to a hospital filled with the dead, many still wearing their green school blazers and sweaters. | |
| The massacre struck at the heart of Pakistan’s military, one of the nation’s most highly respected institutions, which is seen as the guardian of stability in a turbulent region and an important bridge between Pakistan and Western allies such as the United States. | The massacre struck at the heart of Pakistan’s military, one of the nation’s most highly respected institutions, which is seen as the guardian of stability in a turbulent region and an important bridge between Pakistan and Western allies such as the United States. |
| The school, while open to the public, has deep connections to the armed forces. It is funded by Pakistan’s army and many students are children of military personnel based in Peshawar. | |
| In June, Pakistan’s army launched a major operation against Islamist militants in the country’s restive tribal areas. Since then, the number of attacks inside the country has 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 Islamist militants in the country’s restive tribal areas. Since then, the number of attacks inside the country has sharply declined, but the Pakistani Taliban had been warning for months that it would retaliate. |
| The decision to target students brought a wave of anger and disgust from across the world — similar in tone to the outrage after a Taliban gunman shot Pakistan student activist Malala Yousafzai in 2012. | |
| “I am heartbroken,” the 17-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate said in a statement just hours after the Peshawar attack. | “I am heartbroken,” the 17-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate said in a statement just hours after the Peshawar attack. |
| “But we will never be defeated,” she added. | “But we will never be defeated,” she added. |
| In a statement, the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was to avenge the Pakistan military operation in North Waziristan, the heart of the tribal region. | |
| The Taliban said six militants, including three suicide bombers, carried out the assault. The reason for the discrepancy with the Pakistani report, citing seven militants, was not immediately clear. | |
| Meanwhile, the tally of the “dead received” at Lady Reading Hospital showed how the young paid the overwhelming price. Some of the dead were instructors in their 20s and 30s. But they were far outnumbered by student names and ages: 14, 15, 13. | |
| “My son was in uniform in the morning. He is in a casket now,” wailed one parent, Tahir Ali, as he collected the body of his 14-year-old son Abdullah, according to the Associated Press. “My son was my dream. My dream has been killed.” | “My son was in uniform in the morning. He is in a casket now,” wailed one parent, Tahir Ali, as he collected the body of his 14-year-old son Abdullah, according to the Associated Press. “My son was my dream. My dream has been killed.” |
| Pervaiz Khattak, chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, said the Taliban attackers started “indiscriminate firing” after entering the school through a back door. | Pervaiz Khattak, chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, said the Taliban attackers started “indiscriminate firing” after entering the school through a back door. |
| The first students targeted were 9th and 10th graders gathered in the auditorium to receive first-aid training from military doctors, police said. | The first students targeted were 9th and 10th graders gathered in the auditorium to receive first-aid training from military doctors, police said. |
| Muhammad Harris, a 16-year-old student, said he was in a room with 30 students and four teachers when they heard a commotion in the hallway. The students said some of the attackers appeared to be speaking Arabic, which is not a native language of Pakistan. | |
| “Our female teacher went outside when we heard the firing and was shot dead,” Harris said. “One attacker was crying, ‘Help me I am injured.’ But he was not and was trying to trap us and shoot us.” | “Our female teacher went outside when we heard the firing and was shot dead,” Harris said. “One attacker was crying, ‘Help me I am injured.’ But he was not and was trying to trap us and shoot us.” |
| “Then the army arrived and we were rescued,” he continued, “but I saw all the wounded and dead bodies when coming out.” | “Then the army arrived and we were rescued,” he continued, “but I saw all the wounded and dead bodies when coming out.” |
| At the Lady Reading Hospital, 16-year-old Shahrukh Khan said he hid behind a desk as four gunmen entered the auditorium. He watched the gunmen calmly shoot anyone they could find. Then, from behind the desk, he saw two black boots approaching him, he told the AFP news agency. | At the Lady Reading Hospital, 16-year-old Shahrukh Khan said he hid behind a desk as four gunmen entered the auditorium. He watched the gunmen calmly shoot anyone they could find. Then, from behind the desk, he saw two black boots approaching him, he told the AFP news agency. |
| Bullets then tore into both his legs below his knee. | Bullets then tore into both his legs below his knee. |
| “I saw death so close and I will never forget the black boots approaching me,” he said. “I felt as though it was death that was approaching me.” | “I saw death so close and I will never forget the black boots approaching me,” he said. “I felt as though it was death that was approaching me.” |
| Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who rushed to Peshawar, denounced the school assault as a “cowardly act” and vowed to maintain the military operations against militants “until the menace of terrorism is eliminated from Pakistani soil.” | Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who rushed to Peshawar, denounced the school assault as a “cowardly act” and vowed to maintain the military operations against militants “until the menace of terrorism is eliminated from Pakistani soil.” |
| “The nation needs to get united and face terrorism,” he added. “There is no room for any reluctance and we need unflinching resolve against this plague.” | “The nation needs to get united and face terrorism,” he added. “There is no room for any reluctance and we need unflinching resolve against this plague.” |
| President Obama promised to stand by Pakistan — a key ally in the region — after an attack he described as “horrific.” | President Obama promised to stand by Pakistan — a key ally in the region — after an attack he described as “horrific.” |
| “By targeting students and teachers in this heinous attack, terrorists have once again shown their depravity,” said a statement from Obama. | “By targeting students and teachers in this heinous attack, terrorists have once again shown their depravity,” said a statement from Obama. |
| In London, Kerry decried the “gut-wrenching” images, including reports of a teacher burned alive in front of students. | In London, Kerry decried the “gut-wrenching” images, including reports of a teacher burned alive in front of students. |
| At the United Nations, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called it “an act of horror and rank cowardice to attack defenseless children while they learn.” | At the United Nations, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called it “an act of horror and rank cowardice to attack defenseless children while they learn.” |
| Across Pakistan, many residents were glued to televisions, shocked and horrified at the images of bloodied children being ferried — many carried — to overflowing hospitals. | Across Pakistan, many residents were glued to televisions, shocked and horrified at the images of bloodied children being ferried — many carried — to overflowing hospitals. |
| Ahsam Mukhtar, a student at the school, said he was in a classroom when the assault started. | 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.” | “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.” |
| The attack shattered what had been a period relative calm in Pakistan. | The attack shattered what had been a period relative calm in Pakistan. |
| Hanan Askari Rizvi, a Pakistan military analyst, said in an interview the attack was an “unprecedented” even in a country that experienced thousands of terrorists attacks over the past decade. | Hanan Askari Rizvi, a Pakistan military analyst, said in an interview the attack was an “unprecedented” even in a country that experienced thousands of terrorists attacks over the past decade. |
| He said the Taliban appears to be growing more desperate as the Pakistan military operation continues in North Waziristan. | |
| “Now they are attacking the soft targets,” Rizvi said. “This horrendous act of terror shows that the terrorists have weakened after military operation and that’s why less number of attacks but they still have the ability to strike at soft targets.” | “Now they are attacking the soft targets,” Rizvi said. “This horrendous act of terror shows that the terrorists have weakened after military operation and that’s why less number of attacks but they still have the ability to strike at soft targets.” |
| 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. |
| The death toll in Peshawar already has made it among the worst bloodshed at a school in decades. | The death toll in Peshawar already has made it among the worst bloodshed at a school in decades. |
| In September 2004, more than 330 people were killed — nearly half of them children — after Islamist rebels seized control of a school in Beslan in North Ossetia in Russia’s North Caucasus region. Some sources have placed the Beslan death toll higher. | In September 2004, more than 330 people were killed — nearly half of them children — after Islamist rebels seized control of a school in Beslan in North Ossetia in Russia’s North Caucasus region. Some sources have placed the Beslan death toll higher. |
| The Peshawar incident also rivals one of the worst death tolls in Pakistan in recent years. In October 2007, about 150 people were killed in Karachi after suicide bombers targeted celebrations welcoming back former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto after years in self-exile. | The Peshawar incident also rivals one of the worst death tolls in Pakistan in recent years. In October 2007, about 150 people were killed in Karachi after suicide bombers targeted celebrations welcoming back former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto after years in self-exile. |
| Aimir Iqbal, Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar, Shaiq Hussain in Islamabad, Brian Murphy in Washington and Karen DeYoung in London contributed to this report. | Aimir Iqbal, Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar, Shaiq Hussain in Islamabad, Brian Murphy in Washington and Karen DeYoung in London contributed to this report. |