News agencies across the world including Reuters are reporting that Taliban gunmen have attacked a military-run school in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar. Latest reports indicate that the Taliban have killed around 100 people, including 80 children, and hundreds of students have been taken hostage. The Taliban threatens to destabilise Pakistan, where they control areas in the north-west of the country. In recent weeks the Taliban and have been blamed for a wave of suicide bombings and other attacks.
At least 500 hundred pupils were reported to be in the school when the Taliban attacked. The army said in a statement that many hostages had been evacuated but did not say how many.
In a brief English-language statement an army spokesperson said “Rescue operation by troops underway. Exchange of fire continues. Bulk of student(s) and staff evacuated. Reports of some children and teachers killed by Taliban terrorists.”
The Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, has received the bodies of at least 12 people and was treating 40 wounded students and two male teachers.
Hospital spokesperson Ejaz Khan said,”Many are in the operation theatre now in critical condition, undergoing treatment,”
The Provincial health minister Shahram Khan has said that 18 people had died, including 16 students, a female teacher and a soldier.
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 to a major army operation against Taliban insurgents in the tribal areas.
Military officials at the scene said at least six Taliban terrorists had entered the military-run Army Public School. Jamshed Khan, a school bus driver said
“We were standing outside the school and firing suddenly started and there was chaos everywhere and the screams of children and teachers,” said
The situation is still emerging but the BBC are reporting sources that say the Taliban have killed at least 100 with over 80 of the dead reported to be children.
Pakistani Journalist Asad Ashim has reported on twitter that at least 84 people are dead.
To repeat:According to CM KPK Pervez Khattak, at least 84 people have been killed and more than 83 injured in today’s attack #PeshawarAttack
— Asad Hashim (@AsadHashim) December 16, 2014
Taliban spokesman Muhammad Umar Khorasani told Reuters his group was responsible for the attack.
“Our (Taliban) suicide bombers have entered the school, they have instructions not to harm the children, but to target the army personnel,” he said.
“It’s a revenge attack for the army offensive in North Waziristan,” he said, referring to the anti-Taliban military offensive that began in June.
NBC’s Bill Neely reports that the Pakistani army operation against the Taliban terrorists is still underway and that gunfire has started again at the scene
Death toll in #peshawar school massacre now “more than 126”. #PakArmy operation still underway. Firing again starts after lull of 30 minutes
— Bill Neely (@BillNeelyReport) December 16, 2014
Sadly it seems likely that the death toll will climb still further before this latest Taliban terrorist atrocity is over.
[Images Reuters & Daily Mail ]
