Taliban storm school in Peshawar, multiple casualties, mostly students

PESHAWAR: At least 137 people including 84 students were martyred while over 245 were injured when militants attacked an army-run school situated on Warsak Road in Peshawar Tuesday, officials said.

According to school sources, the militants wearing military uniforms entered the Army Public School when students had gathered to receive first-aid training by visiting officers from the CMH.

Read More: Terrorists were in contact with handlers in Afghanistan

"There has been an incident of firing at Army Public School in Peshawar. Troops have cordoned off the area and (are) searching for the militants," a senior military official confirmed.


According to DG ISPR's last tweet on the issue, additional 13 staff members were rescued by the SSG commandos.

#Psr Update:Latest;7 more male staff members and 4 lady teachers rescued by SSG.Closing up

— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) December 16, 2014

Earlier DG ISPR tweeted that 2 more children and 2 teachers had been rescued by security forces while a 6th terrorist was killed in the last block. DG ISPR further added, that the terrorists had planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the school.

#Psr Update:2 more children,2 teachers rescued.6th terrorist killed in last block.IEDs planted by terrorists hamper speed of clearance

— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) December 16, 2014

DG ISPR continued to share updates regarding the progress and tweeted, that a 5th terrorist was killed who was present in one of the last blocks of the school. DG ISPR mentioned that SSG commandos have also rescued 2 more children & 2 staff members.

#Psr Update:5th terrorist killed in the last under clearance block of school,meanwhile SSG troops rescued 2 more children & 2 staff members.

— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) December 16, 2014

Earlier, the DG ISPR had tweeted that a search and clearance operation is underway at the school. DG ISPR, Major General Asim Bajwa tweeted that, terrorists are now confined to the last 4 blocks of the school.

#Psr Update:Terrorists pushed&confined to last of 4 blocks of school.4 terrorists killed so far.Search for remaining on,Clearance underway

— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) December 16, 2014

According to sources, 137 people lost their lives in the attack including 84 children while approximately 245 injured are being treated at hospitals out of which many are said to be in critical condition. The injured are being treated at the Lady Reading Hospital where emergency has been declared.

Glimpses:Peshawar School Attack, in pictures

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pervez Khattak told journalists that over 100 children have been martyred in the attack.

Security sources add, that three militants have been killed during the rescue operation.

Warsak Road was closed for all sorts of traffic while a vehicle was also set ablaze by the militants on the road.

The attack comes as the military wages a major offensive against Taliban and other militants in the tribal area of North Waziristan.

TTP claims attack

A spokesman for a faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the gunmen had been ordered to shoot older students but not children.

TTP spokesman Muhammad Khorasani told there were six attackers.

"They include target killers and suicide attackers. They have been ordered to shoot the older students but not the children," he said.

Eye-witness Accounts


Speaking to Geo News students who were being treated at the hospital said, “We were being given first-aid training by officers from CMH, they had only just begun the introduction, when we heard loud sounds,” he added, “I saw three men, I didn’t see anyone else, we all lay down on the ground and they continued to fire for nearly 30-minutes shooting students.”

“When the firing started, our teacher told us to close the doors, but that is when the attackers stormed in,” recalled another student.