A Taliban attack on a school has killed 104, including at least 84 children
Gunmen attacked the Army Public School in the city of Peshawar
Taliban gunmen in Pakistan have reportedly killed up to 100 students and teachers and taken hundreds more hostage at an army-run school in the northern city of Peshawar.
The region's Chief Minister, Pervez Khattak, told reporters 104 adults and children were dead, including 84 pupils, although earlier estimates had put the figure far lower.
A spokesperson for the Taliban told international media that suicide bombers had been sent into the Army Public School to target army personnel on orders not to harm young children.
But estimates of death toll continued mounting on Tuesday morning, including several soldiers. The numbers could not immediately be confirmed and it was unclear if hostages were still inside the building.
Shah Farman, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister of Information, said between 80 and 100 people were believed to be dead.
"The army is trying hard to bring the situation under control," he added. "The operation is currently underway.
"It is unfortunate that schoolchildren were targeted. We need the country to be united and we need justice."
A soldier escorts schoolchildren after they were rescued from the Army Public SchoolPakistan's Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, is travelling to the scene of the attack in Peshawar.
"These are my children and it is my loss," he said.
The Times of India reported that 12 students and one teacher had been killed and a suicide bomber had blown himself up, while the Associated Press quoted an official from the Lady Reading Hospital saying 20 students and one Pakistani paramilitary forces soldier were dead.
Journalists at the scene could hear heavy gunfire from inside the school as soldiers surrounded it and ambulances took wounded children to the hospital.
“We were standing outside the school and firing suddenly started and there was chaos everywhere and the screams of children and teachers,” said Jamshed Khan, a school bus driver.
Indian television station NDTV reported that at least two teenage pupils had been killed and 20 more injured, while estimates of casualties elsewhere reached 40.
About 500 students and teachers were believed to be inside at the time, with some taking first aid lessons.
"After half an hour of the attack, the army came and sealed the school," a teacher who escaped told a private television channel.
"We were in the examination hall when the attack took place," he said. "Now the army men are clearing the classes one by one."
One of the wounded students, Abdullah Jamal, said that he was with a group of teenagers who were getting first aid training with a team of Pakistani army medics when the violence began.
"These are my children and it is my loss," he said.
The Times of India reported that 12 students and one teacher had been killed and a suicide bomber had blown himself up, while the Associated Press quoted an official from the Lady Reading Hospital saying 20 students and one Pakistani paramilitary forces soldier were dead.
Journalists at the scene could hear heavy gunfire from inside the school as soldiers surrounded it and ambulances took wounded children to the hospital.
“We were standing outside the school and firing suddenly started and there was chaos everywhere and the screams of children and teachers,” said Jamshed Khan, a school bus driver.
Indian television station NDTV reported that at least two teenage pupils had been killed and 20 more injured, while estimates of casualties elsewhere reached 40.
About 500 students and teachers were believed to be inside at the time, with some taking first aid lessons.
"After half an hour of the attack, the army came and sealed the school," a teacher who escaped told a private television channel.
"We were in the examination hall when the attack took place," he said. "Now the army men are clearing the classes one by one."
One of the wounded students, Abdullah Jamal, said that he was with a group of teenagers who were getting first aid training with a team of Pakistani army medics when the violence began.
Pakistani security forces takes up a positions on a road leading to the Army Public SchoolHe said no one realised what was happening until they "saw children falling down who were crying and screaming" as they were shot.
"I also fell down. I learned later that I have got a bullet,” he said from his hospital bed, where he was being treated for a gunshot wound to his leg.
“All the children had bullet wounds. All the children were bleeding."
Eyewitnesses said the attackers were dressed in army uniforms and set fire to a vehicle before entering the school and opening fire.
Military officials said at least six armed men had entered the Army Public School but did not confirm the number of casualties.
“Our suicide bombers have entered the school, they have instructions not to harm the children, but to target the army personnel,” a spokesperson for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban, told Reuters.
"It's a revenge attack for the army offensive in North Waziristan," he said, referring to an anti-Taliban military offensive that started in June.
David Cameron expressed his sympathy on Twitter. "The news from Pakistan is deeply shocking," he wrote. "It's horrifying that children are being killed simply for going to school."
Additional reporting by agencies
"I also fell down. I learned later that I have got a bullet,” he said from his hospital bed, where he was being treated for a gunshot wound to his leg.
“All the children had bullet wounds. All the children were bleeding."
Eyewitnesses said the attackers were dressed in army uniforms and set fire to a vehicle before entering the school and opening fire.
Military officials said at least six armed men had entered the Army Public School but did not confirm the number of casualties.
“Our suicide bombers have entered the school, they have instructions not to harm the children, but to target the army personnel,” a spokesperson for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban, told Reuters.
"It's a revenge attack for the army offensive in North Waziristan," he said, referring to an anti-Taliban military offensive that started in June.
David Cameron expressed his sympathy on Twitter. "The news from Pakistan is deeply shocking," he wrote. "It's horrifying that children are being killed simply for going to school."
Additional reporting by agencies
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