Taliban gun down school children in Peshawar

A man comforts his son, who was injured during an attack by Taliban gunmen on the Army Public School, at Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar. Photograph: Reuters

Over 120 students were among 126 people killed on Tuesday when heavily-armed Taliban terrorists stormed an army-run school in Pakistan's volatile Peshawar city and opened indiscriminate fire on them, in one of the most gruesome attacks in recent years against children.

Image: A student cries on a man's shoulder, after he was rescued from the Army Public School that in under attack by Taliban gunmen in Peshawar. Photograph: Khuram Parvez/Reuters

A group of eight to 10 suicide attackers wearing paramilitary Frontier Corps uniforms entered Army Public School on Warsak Road and started indiscriminate firing around 10.30 am (local time) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak told reporters.

Image: A soldier escorts schoolchildren from the Army Public School that is under attack by Taliban gunmen in Peshawar. Photograph: Khuram Parvez/Reuters

In one of the most gruesome attacks in recent years against children anywhere in the world, the terrorists went from classroom-to-classroom shooting indiscriminately at the
shocked students, eyewitnesses told local media.

One rescued student told reporters that the attackers had long beards and they were wearingsalwar kameez. He said they were speaking Arabic and looked foreigners.

Image: Schoolchildren cross a road as they move away from a military run school that is under attack by Taliban gunmen in Peshawar. Photograph: Khuram Parvez/Reuters

At least 24 bodies were lying in the Lady Reading Hospital and 60 others in Combined Military Hospital, Khattak said. At least 43 injured have been shifted to
LRH, 40 to CMH and others to nearby hospitals.

Khattak said at least one militant blew himself up inside the school building, two to three attackers have been killed and five to six others are still inside the complex.

The attackers are holding several students as hostages using them as human shields to prevent army from storming the building. Official sources said the toll could go up.

A three-day of mourning has been announced.

Image: Ambulances drive away from the school that is under attack by Taliban gunmen.  Photograph: Khuram Parvez/Reuters 

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack and termed it a "national tragedy." He has reached Peshawar to personally monitor the operation. Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif
has also rushed to Peshawar from Quetta.

A police official said that the school has been cordoned off, with a rescue operation in progress. About 500 students and teachers were believed to be inside at the time of attack.

Mushtaq Ghani, provincial information minister, said the militants entered through a graveyard which is adjacent to the school. It is close to Saint Mary High School located at the start of Warsak Road which was also under threat for last couple of days.

Image: A Pakistani soldier takes up a position above a road near the school. Photograph: Khuram Parvez/Reuters 

A heavy contingent of police and security forces have blocked the roads leading to the school, taking control of the entire area.

In a brief statement, the army said: "Rescue operation by troops underway. Exchange of fire continues. Bulk of student and staff evacuated. Reports of some children and teachers killed by terrorist."

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesman claimed that its six suicide bombers attacked army school, saying it was a revenge for the army's operation against militants in the North Waziristan tribal area close to Peshawar. "We want them to feel our pain," the spokesman said.

The army had launched a massive military operation 'Zarb- e-Azb' in June following a brazen militant attack on Karachi's international airport and the failure of peace talks between
the government and the Taliban negotiators.

The military has said more than 1,300 militants have been killed during the operation in North Waziristan and adjacent tribal region and it will continue till militancy was completely wiped out of Pakistan.

Image: Pakistani security forces drive on a road leading to the school. Photograph: Khuram Parvez/Reuters

Opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Imran Khan, whose party rules Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, termed the attack as an act of "barbarism".

Shagufta, who lives near the school, told Geo TV that she heard two explosions, a smaller one followed by a huge bang.

A student who identified himself as Shuja told Samaa TV that they were taking examination when firing started. They were told by the teacher to lie down on the floor. He said they remained on floor for about one hour when army soldiers came and told them to go out.

Several students escaped through the back gate. One of students who escaped told Dunya TVthat the fourth lecture was in progress when they heard firing.

"First we didn't know what has happened. But later an army officer told us to escape through back gate," he said.