This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/taliban-storm-a-public-school-in-pakistan/2014/12/16/bcd6f928-84f8-11e4-b9b7-b8632ae73d25_story.html?wprss=rss_world

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Taliban storm a public school in Pakistan Taliban storm a public school in Pakistan
(35 minutes later)
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. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Taliban militants stormed an elite public school in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least 104 students and teachers, wounding scores of others and perhaps holding many others 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 on 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. Pervaiz Khattak, chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, said eight to ten terrorists wearing military uniforms carried out the attack. He said they started “indiscriminate firing.”
“This is unfortunate. We condemn it, and those who did it will not be spared,” said Khattak, adding at least 80 students have also been injured.
So far, two or three terrorists have been killed while another blew himself up when cornered, he said. Four to five terrorists remain inside the school, and it’s unclear how many students are still being held hostage, he added.
Hundreds of Pakistani army and police officials raced to the scene, and sporadic gunfire and explosions could be heard on school grounds.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. Mushtag Ghani, the information minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said many of the students were children of Pakistani military officers.
There were also reports that the gunmen remain in the school and are holding as many as 500 people hostage. Some students who had been in the school reported seeing numerous dead bodies in the hallways.
In a statement, Pakistan’s military said “the bulk of the students and staff have been evacuated.” Ghani said the terrorists immediately began shooting students when they entered the school through a back door.
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.
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.”“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.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.”
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, 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.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.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 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.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.