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Pakistan mourns after Taliban Peshawar school massacre Pakistan mourns after Taliban Peshawar school massacre
(about 1 hour later)
The Pakistani city of Peshawar is burying its dead after a Taliban attack at a school killed at least 132 children and nine staff.The Pakistani city of Peshawar is burying its dead after a Taliban attack at a school killed at least 132 children and nine staff.
Mourners crowded around coffins bedecked with flowers, while other families waited at hospitals for news. Mourners crowded around coffins bedecked with flowers, after candlelit vigils were staged overnight.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declared three days of mourning and Pakistan's army struck at militants in the region. Gunmen had walked from class to class shooting students in the Pakistani Taliban's deadliest attack to date.
Mr Sharif also convened a meeting of all parliamentary parties in Peshawar to discuss the response to the attack. PM Nawaz Sharif has declared three days of mourning over the massacre, which has sparked national outrage.
World leaders have also voiced disgust at the attack, which even the Afghan Taliban have criticised.
Separately, Pakistan's army says it launched air strikes at militants in the Khyber and North Waziristan areas, although it is not yet clear if this was a direct response to the school attack. An offensive against the militants has been going on since June.
Mr Sharif also convened a meeting of all parliamentary parties in Peshawar to discuss the response.
The meeting on Wednesday was called to show that the whole nation stood against extremism, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid told reporters.The meeting on Wednesday was called to show that the whole nation stood against extremism, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid told reporters.
World leaders voiced disgust at the Taliban's deadliest attack to date, which even its Afghan allies disowned. Classroom to classroom
According to the army, Tuesday's attack was carried out by seven Taliban attackers, all wearing bomb vests.According to the army, Tuesday's attack was carried out by seven Taliban attackers, all wearing bomb vests.
They cut through a wire fence to enter the school from the rear and attacked an auditorium where children were taking an exam.They cut through a wire fence to enter the school from the rear and attacked an auditorium where children were taking an exam.
Gunmen then went from classroom to classroom at the military-run school, shooting pupils and teachers where they found them, survivors say. Gunmen then went from room to room at the military-run school, shooting pupils and teachers where they found them, survivors say.
The siege at Peshawar's Army Public School, which teaches boys and girls from both military and civilian backgrounds, lasted eight hours.The siege at Peshawar's Army Public School, which teaches boys and girls from both military and civilian backgrounds, lasted eight hours.
A total of 125 people were wounded, according to the army before all seven attackers were killed. Hundreds of people were evacuated. A total of 125 people were wounded, according to the army, before all seven attackers were killed. Hundreds of people were evacuated.
The Pakistani Taliban sought to justify the attack by saying it was revenge for the army's ongoing campaign against them. The school was chosen as a target, the militants said, because their families had also suffered heavy losses. The Pakistani Taliban sought to justify the attack by saying it was revenge for the army's campaign against them. The school was chosen as a target, the militants said, because their families had also suffered heavy losses.
In line with the Islamic custom, mourners began burying victims as darkness fell. In line with the Islamic custom, mourners began burying victims as darkness fell on Tuesday.
The bier carrying the shrouded body of one teacher was strewn with flowers as men crowded around it.The bier carrying the shrouded body of one teacher was strewn with flowers as men crowded around it.
At the funeral of one pupil, his father told the Associated Press news agency: "He was only 15 years old and was in the eighth grade. Mohammad Hilal, a student in the 10th grade, was shot three times in his arm and legs when the gunmen stormed the school auditorium.
"I was in the court when I received a call about the incident and then rushed towards the hospital... He got a bullet right in his chest and another bullet hit his hand. I am sorry I can't talk any more about it." "I think I passed out for a while. I thought I was dreaming. I wanted to move but felt paralysed. Then I came to and realised that actually two other boys had fallen on me. Both of them were dead," he told the BBC.
Sajid Khan, uncle of 10-year-old victim Gul Sher, told AFP news agency his nephew had plans to become a doctor. Zulfiqar Ahmad, 45, the head of the mathematics department who was shot four times during the attack told the BBC he did not believe any of the 18 students in his class had survived the attack.
"We cannot take the revenge from the terrorists but we pray to Allah to take the revenge," he said. The victims are also being mourned elsewhere, with India's parliament observing a minute's silence in their honour.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his country's "deepest condolences".
'Our children's blood''Our children's blood'
Mr Sharif also pledged to avenge a "national tragedy unleashed by savages". Mr Sharif pledged to avenge a "national tragedy unleashed by savages".
"We will take revenge for each and every drop of our children's blood that was spilt today," he said."We will take revenge for each and every drop of our children's blood that was spilt today," he said.
Malala Yousafzai, the 17-year-old who was shot by the Pakistani Taliban for championing girls' rights to education, also condemned "these atrocious and cowardly acts".Malala Yousafzai, the 17-year-old who was shot by the Pakistani Taliban for championing girls' rights to education, also condemned "these atrocious and cowardly acts".
"Innocent children in their school have no place in horror such as this," she said."Innocent children in their school have no place in horror such as this," she said.
In line with the national mourning, Pakistani embassies worldwide will have their flags lowered to half-mast and books of condolences will be opened.In line with the national mourning, Pakistani embassies worldwide will have their flags lowered to half-mast and books of condolences will be opened.
The military response is already reported to have begun.
Pakistani military spokesman Asim Bajwa announced in a tweet that 10 air strikes had been carried out in the Khyber region, along with other action, as yet unspecified.
Pakistani Taliban spokesman Mohammad Khurasani said the militants had been "forced" to launch the attack in response to army attacks.Pakistani Taliban spokesman Mohammad Khurasani said the militants had been "forced" to launch the attack in response to army attacks.
He accused the military of killing the children and womenfolk of Taliban fighters and burning their homes.He accused the military of killing the children and womenfolk of Taliban fighters and burning their homes.
Hundreds of Taliban fighters are thought to have died in a recent government offensive in the Khyber area and North Waziristan, regions close to the Afghan border. Hundreds of Taliban fighters are thought to have died in the recent Pakistan army offensive in the Khyber area and North Waziristan, regions close to the Afghan border.
Deadly attacks in PakistanDeadly attacks in Pakistan
16 December 2014: Taliban attack on school in Peshawar leaves at least 141 people dead, 132 of them children16 December 2014: Taliban attack on school in Peshawar leaves at least 141 people dead, 132 of them children
22 September 2013: Militants linked to the Taliban kill at least 80 people at a church in Peshawar, in one of the worst attacks on Christians22 September 2013: Militants linked to the Taliban kill at least 80 people at a church in Peshawar, in one of the worst attacks on Christians
10 January 2013: Militant bombers target the Hazara Shia Muslim minority in the city of Quetta, killing 120 at a snooker hall and on a street10 January 2013: Militant bombers target the Hazara Shia Muslim minority in the city of Quetta, killing 120 at a snooker hall and on a street
28 May 2010: Gunmen attack two mosques of the minority Ahmadi Islamic sect in Lahore, killing more than 80 people28 May 2010: Gunmen attack two mosques of the minority Ahmadi Islamic sect in Lahore, killing more than 80 people
18 October 2007: Twin bomb attack at a rally for Benazir Bhutto in Karachi leaves at least 130 dead. Unclear if Taliban behind attack18 October 2007: Twin bomb attack at a rally for Benazir Bhutto in Karachi leaves at least 130 dead. Unclear if Taliban behind attack
In Afghanistan itself, the local Taliban described the school attack as un-Islamic.In Afghanistan itself, the local Taliban described the school attack as un-Islamic.
The Afghan Taliban are currently stepping up their own attacks in Afghanistan and share roots with the Pakistani Taliban and usually share the same ideology too, the BBC's Mike Wooldridge reports from Kabul.The Afghan Taliban are currently stepping up their own attacks in Afghanistan and share roots with the Pakistani Taliban and usually share the same ideology too, the BBC's Mike Wooldridge reports from Kabul.
But their spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said that they were sending their condolences to the families of the children killed in the Peshawar attack and that they shared their sadness.But their spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said that they were sending their condolences to the families of the children killed in the Peshawar attack and that they shared their sadness.
US President Barack Obama said terrorists had "once again shown their depravity" while UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said it was "an act of horror and rank cowardice".US President Barack Obama said terrorists had "once again shown their depravity" while UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said it was "an act of horror and rank cowardice".
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his country's "deepest condolences".
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