In Pics: 132 children killed in Peshawar school attack

New Delhi: In the bloodiest terror attack in Pakistan in years, at least 141 people, mostly children, were on Tuesday killed by heavily-armed Taliban suicide bombers who stormed an army-run school here and took several hostages, a throwback to the 2004 Beslan school siege by Chechen rebels.A group of 8 Arabic-speaking attackers, wearing paramilitary Frontier Corps uniforms, entered the Army Public School on Warsak Road around 10.30am (local time) and started the massacre of innocents, spraying bullets indiscriminately, going from classroom-to-classroom.They also took several hostages using them as human shield. The death toll in the attack has reached 160 with a majority of them being students, official sources told PTI. At least 122 others have been injured.They said that so far six militants have died — four of them blew themselves up while two were shot dead by security forces.20 teachers, including the principal, and 34 students are hostages and the operation is continuing, an official of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Pervez Khattak's office said.The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the attack, one of the worst in recent years.The Taliban spokesman claimed that its 6 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. World leaders united in condemning the attack as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif termed it a "national tragedy" and chaired a security meeting in Peshawar where he was briefed about the attack and operation.Sharif reiterated that military operation 'Zarb-e-azab' to flush out terrorists from the country's tribal belt will continue."It's a sheer act of cowardice...the country should unite to combat terrorism," he added.Army Chief General Raheel Sharif also reached Peshawar to monitor the situation.In one of the most gruesome attacks in recent years against children anywhere in the world, the militants 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 wearing 'shalwar kamiz'.He said they were speaking Arabic and looked like foreigners.In the incident in Beslan in North Ossetia, Russia, at least 32 armed individuals stormed a school and took more than 1,000 hostages, majority of them children. Over 330 people, mostly children, were killed in the assault.About 500 students and teachers were believed to be inside the school when the attack started.Mushtaq Ghani, provincial information minister, said the militants entered through a graveyard which is adjacent to the school.The school is close to Saint Mary High School which has also been under threat since the last couple of days.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."The army had launched the 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.Opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan, whose party rules Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, termed the attack as an act of "barbarism".In the wake of the attack, Khan postponed his plan to shut down the entire country that was planned for December 18.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 TV that fourth period was in progress when they heard firing."First we didn't know what has happened. But late an army officer told us to escape through back gate," he said.A welcome ceremony planned in Lahore for the hockey team which won silver medal in the champion trophy in India has been postponed.Pakistan Hockey Federation said that the ceremony would be held at a future suitable time.Defence minister Khawaja Asif said in a statement, "We are deeply fragmented today as a nation. For the sake of the children martyred today and our children fighting the enemy for our existence, we must have one message for the enemy (that) we shall overcome inshallah and rid our land of this scourge. Zarb-e-Azb to continue with full force and (our) Armed forces remain undeterred."After a 9 hour gun battle, the Peshwar school siege has finally come to en end, according to Pakistan police.The police has claimed that all 6 terrorists have been killed. According to a PTI report, at least 160 people, mostly children, were killed in these attacks.Around six to seven terrorists of the Tehreek-e-Taliban stormed an Army school in Pakistan's Peshawar city today.132 children have been reportedly killed in the firing by the terrorists. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister KP Pervez Khattak has confirmed the number of children killed in this attack.More than 80 people including children have been injured in the firing.According to the reports, terrorists have burnt alive a lady teacher to terrorise the students.3 terrorists have been killed by security forces while one of them blew himself.Around 1000 students are reportedly present in the school and have been held hostage by the terrorists.The terror group claimed that all the terrorists are on a suicide mission. Pakistani security forces have cordoned off the school and a gunbattle is on with the terrorists.There was all-round condemnation in India, including from President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for Tuesday's dastardly terror attack on a school in Pakistan's Peshawar city that left nearly 140 people, mostly school children, dead. Mukherjee expressed "deep anguish" and strongly condemned the incident in which heavily armed terrorists launched a brazen attack on the army-run school.In a message, the president said: "Such heinous acts are against all tenets of humanity. They are nothing but a manifestation of the extreme evil that terrorists are capable of. The world community must unite and redouble efforts to root out terrors from every country and society."Mukherjee conveyed his condolences to the grieving families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.Modi in a tweet said: "Strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack at a school in Peshawar."It is a senseless act of unspeakable brutality that has claimed lives of the most innocent of human beings - young children in their school. My heart goes out to everyone who lost their loved ones today. We share their pain & offer our deepest condolences," the tweet added.Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan too expressed sorrow at the incident."This is a gruesome and heinous act. The perpetrators of such acts are enemies of mankind," Mahajan said.India's external affairs ministry, in a statement, said: "No words will capture the feeling of deep revulsion and horror we feel about this terror attack against innocent children of the Army Public School in Peshawar. It was not just innocent children who have been massacred today, but the very conception of humanity.""The government of India strongly condemns this barbaric crime against humanity."Our prayers are with the families and loved ones of all those who lost their lives or were injured in this barbaric incident. We hope the almighty gives them the courage and fortitude to bear their irreparable loss."There never has been, nor will there ever be, a justification for terrorism," the ministry statement added.External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj cancelled a dinner she was to host Tuesday night for parliamentarians.Child rights activist and Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi said: "My heart bleeds for bereaved families. It is one of the darkest days of humanity. The Pakistan government must take all possible steps to protect children and schools from violence.""I beg the Taliban, take me and leave these children," he told a news channel.Education campaigner and fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai also condemned the attack and termed it a "senseless and cold-blooded act of terror"."I am heartbroken by this senseless and cold-blooded act of terror in Peshawar. I condemn these atrocious and cowardly acts, and stand united with the government and armed forces of Pakistan," Malala said in a tweet."Innocent children in their school have no place in horror such as this," she added.The India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC) also strongly condemned the Pakistan incident.IICC president Sirajuddin Qureshi said people behind such incidents cannot be treated as human beings.More than 130 children were killed in the attack on Army Public School in Peshawar.The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility and called it a revenge attack for army operations in North Waziristan.Malala is herself a survivor of a similar attack when she was shot in the head by the Taliban in her native Pakistan two years ago.She was attacked for taking up cudgels for girls' right to education. The 17-year-old activist, who now lives in Britain, was awarded the Nobel Prize this year for her global campaign on education.