Children Killed in Attack on Pakistan School
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - At least 16 students and two adults are believed to have died in an attack by Pakistani Taliban fighters on their school in Peshawar, in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The death toll is difficult to confirm as many of the bodies remain inside the school while Pakistani security forces try to retake it from the attackers, sources tell Al Jazeera sources.
A spokesman for a faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban, said the attackers had been ordered to shoot older students.
Hospital sources told Al Jazeera that besides the dead, at least 35 people had been wounded in Tuesday's attack.
Peshawar's Lady Reading Hospital confirmed that there were four bodies at the hospital. A journalist at the scene in Peshawar said the toll was likely to rise.
"The situation is very grim. According to inside sources, at least 10 children have died and the fighting is ongoing," Zahir Shah Sherazi said.
"All the roads leading to this area have been cordoned off. We don't have a clear idea what is going on inside, but some sources are saying there are more bodies lying inside."
Shaukat Yousafzai, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's health minister, said a school function had been going on in the senior section of the school when an explosion went off.
"The matter has largely come under control now. The operation is now complete on the students side, and has moved to the administration block of the school," he said.
"There are no negotiations ongoing at the moment, there is a security forces operation ongoing.
"They have been cleared from the junior section. The explosion occurred in the senior section where there was a [school] function ongoing.
"This is a very saddening event, and these are our children, the children of Pakistan. By killing these children, I am not sure what service these terrorists have done to Islam."
At least six armed men attacked the Army Public School where about 500 students and teachers were present, military officials said.
The attack began at about 11am local time (06:00 GMT).
An initial blast as the attackers hit the school was followed by a second explosion. Small-arms fire was heard throughout the raid as security forces tried to retake the school.
A heavy contingent of security forces arrived at the school shortly after the attack began and launched the rescue operation.
The army said in a statement that many hostages had been evacuated but did not say how many.
"Rescue operation by troops underway. Exchange of fire continues. Bulk of student(s) and staff evacuated. Reports of some children and teachers killed by terrorist," the army said in a brief English-language statement.
