PESHAWAR: At least 80 people were killed when unidentified armed men opened fire on a private school in Peshawar on Tuesday, Express News reported.
The Army Public School is located on Warsak Road near Army Housing Colony and a medical school.
3:22pm
With the tragic incident escalating, the death toll has now risen to over 120, according to
Express News.
Further, two fresh blasts have been heard from within the vicinity and firing is still going on.
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3:18pm
Our correspondent Riaz Ahmad gives us a bone-chilling account of parents looking for their children at Lady Reading Hospital amid the chaos in Peshawar.
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3:13pm
Watch footage of the scenes at hospitals following the devastating attack.
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3:10pm
So far, at least 85 students have reached CMH hospital from the Government Commerce College to donate blood to the injured, according to our correspondent Umer Farooq.
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2:57pm
Jammatud Dawa’s Hafiz Saeed while speaking to
Express News condemns the tragic attack on the school in Peshawar.
“This is a huge incident and is a blaitant act of terrorism,” Saeed says.
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2:47pm
Army Chief Raheel Sharif leaves for Peshawar from Quetta, while DG ISPR Asim Bajwa is already present in the city.
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2:42pm
Militant outfit TTP, which has claimed responsibility for the attack, say the school was targeted because “army targets our families.”
“We want them to feel our pain,” TTP say.
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2:38pm
There are conflicting reports on the number of deaths with
Express News reporting 104 children are dead, while AFP is saying 95 people have been killed in total.
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2:34pm
PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal calls on all the leaders to put differences aside and work together to recreate the national narrative.
“We are in a state of war and we can only fight our enemies with unity,” he stresses.
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2:30pm
PAT chief Tahirul Qadri expresses sorrow over the loss of precious lives.
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2:25pm
Prime Minister Nawaz says this is a national crisis. “I will monitor the operation personally from Peshawar,” he says.
Security is put on high alert in Islamabad after the attack on school in Peshawar, while K-P government announces three days of mourning.
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2:10pm
Condemning the attack, K-P CM says there are 24 bodies at LRH and 60 at CMH.
“There are 43 injured admitted to LRH and 40 to CMH,” he adds.
He says rescue operation is still going on and most parts of the school building have been cleared except for the principal’s room and another area.
“Around 10 men wearing FC uniform entered the building; security personnel killed two while another blew himself up,” he says.
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2:08pm
As emergency has been declared at the LRH, here is a snapshot of the situation how nurses at this hospital deal with immense adversity.
Nurses: The white army
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2:04pm
PTI leader Jahangir Tareen says this is a national tragedy and everyone will work together to make sure the issue is addressed in the best possible way.
“There can never be a justification for such a barbaric act,” he says, condemning the attack in the strongest term.
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1:59pm
Our correspondent Riaz Ahmad reports that at least 27 bodies are present in Lady Reading Hospital at the moment.
SSP Operation Najibur Rehman says the rescue operation is still underway.
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1:49pm
K-P information minister says at least five attackers, wearing army uniform, entered the school building from the backside of the building.
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1:43pm
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, while speaking to
Express News, says the government will not waver from its commitment to eradicate terrorism despite such coward attacks.
“We will not rest until the scourge of terrorism is completely eliminated,” he says.
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1:24pm
Rescue operation is still in progress inside the school. The building has been badly damaged because of the firing and explosion.
Our correspondent Riaz Ahmad reports that 25 more ambulances have been called in to assist with the rescue work.
A soldier takes position above a road near the school that is under attack. PHOTO: REUTERS
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1:20pm
Officials tell AFP that at least 20 people are killed in the attack.
At least 15 bodies are in Lady Reading Hospital, of whom most are students and one is a female teacher, our correspondent Riaz Ahmad reports.
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1:16pm
Lady Reading Hospital spokesperson says 18 people have been killed and 36 are injured.
Most of the injured students were shot in their legs and arms.
Security around the hospital has also been beefed up.
Ambulances drive away from the school that is under attack by gunmen in Peshawar, December 16, 2014. PHOTO: REUTERS
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1:08pm
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gives strict instructions to concerned officials to rescue students and teachers safely.
The premier further instructs Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to personally monitor the rescue operation in Peshawar.
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12:56pm
K-P Health Minister Shahram Tarkai says emergency has been declared in four major hospitals of the city.
He says 12 students have been killed while 36 were injured. All of the injured students are boys.
One female teacher was also killed while two others were injured.
The health minister says another body brought to the hospital is of a soldier.
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12:50pm
Rescue operation by troops underway as exchange of fire continues, ISPR reports.
A large number of students and staff have been evacuated.
Further, according to reports, some children and teachers have been killed by the militants.
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12:48pm
Lady Reading Hospital spokesperson says 10 people have been killed while 30 are injured.
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12:46pm
ANP leader Zahid Khan, while speaking to
Express News, calls it a barbaric attack and says these attackers follow no religion.
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12:34pm
Lady Reading Hospital, where many injured have been taken, has asked for blood donation.
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12:32pm
Eyewitnesses say five to six men entered the building and opened fire. Students hid under their desks and later moved to a safer location from where they were rescued by security officials.
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12:29pm
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemns the attack and says those behind the heinous act will not be spared.
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12:24pm
Lady Reading Hospital spokesperson confirms the number of casualties.
Security sources say a large number of students and teacher have been evacuated, while the search operation is in progress.
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12:21pm
Emergency has been declared at Lady Reading Hospital.
PTI chief Imran Khan condemns the attack.
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12:18pm
Security officials say there are at least 6 attackers inside the building.
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12:15pm
An explosion was heard from inside the school building.
The attackers reportedly have suicide jackets with them.
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12:12pm
Two helicopters are constantly monitoring the situation, while army tankers are also seen in the area.
At least 15 ambulances are in the area to respond to any emergency.
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12:08pm
Militant outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for attack.
“Our people successfully entered the army school in Peshawar this morning. We are giving them direct instructions to not harm minors,” TTP spokesperson Omar Khorasani told
The Express Tribune.
“Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Operation Khyber-I forced us to take such an extreme step,” he said.
Read full story here.
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11:55am
At least 15 students have been rescued from the building while many are reportedly inside it. The injured were shifted to Combined Military Hospital.
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11:46am
As per initial details, around five to six gunmen mounted this attack and tried to enter the school. The attackers were wearing uniform of armed forces.
Security forces have cordoned off the school and entered the building. Officials are also monitoring the situation from a helicopter.
Attackers and security personnel also exchanged fire near the school.