Mastermind of APS & Bacha Khan University attacks dead

PESHAWAR: The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Wednesday confirmed the death of Umar Mansoor who was the mastermind behind the Army Public School (APS) and Bacha Khan University attacks in Pakistan.

Umar Mansoor was the TTP’s commander in Peshawar and Dara Adam Khel. Reports that he had been killed were circulating months earlier as well, at the time the TTP did not confirm or deny whether he was dead or alive.

Details regarding when, where and how Umar Mansoor died were not given by the banned organization's spokesman. 

Usman Mansoor is said to have replaced Umar as the TTP’s new commander in Peshawar.

A Reuters report from 2014 stated that Umar Mansoor was educated in Islamabad and later at a seminary. He worked as a labourer in Karachi before he joined the TTP in 2007. He is said to have close ties to Mullah Fazlullah who was behind the attack on Malala Yousufzai.