UPDATE — 12:05 p.m. ET: The death toll has risen to at least 141 victims, most of them children, the Associated Press is reporting.
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UPDATE — 9:25 a.m. ET: President Barack Obama issues statement condemning attack "in the strongest possible terms."
The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms today’s horrific attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims, their families, and loved ones. By targeting students and teachers in this heinous attack, terrorists have once again shown their depravity. We stand with the people of Pakistan, and reiterate the commitment of the United States to support the Government of Pakistan in its efforts to combat terrorism and extremism and to promote peace and stability in the region.
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UPDATE — 8:15 a.m. ET: Number of those killed rises.
The Associated Press and the BBC, quoting Pakistani officials, report that the death toll has risen to 126.
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UPDATE — 7:25 a.m. ET: Pakistani military says sixth attacker killed.
Pakistani army spokesman Major Gen. Asim Bajwa says that a sixth attacker has been killed and that explosives planted by the perpetrators are slowing the military’s effort.
#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—
UPDATE — 7:20 a.m. ET: U.S. condemns “senseless and inhumane attacks.”
U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson issued a statement extending his “deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims of Tuesday's heinous attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar.”
“The United States strongly condemns senseless and inhumane attacks on innocent students and educators, and stands in solidarity with the people of Pakistan, and all who fight the menace of terrorism,” Olson said.
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UPDATE — 7:00 a.m. ET: Pakistani leader vows country must be “cleansed from terrorism.”
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif tells reporters in Peshawar that Tuesday’s attack was a repercussion of the Pakistani military operation launched this summer against the Taliban.
"I feel that until and unless this country is cleansed from terrorism, this war and effort will not stop, no one should be doubtful of this. We have also spoken to Afghanistan about this and we will fight terrorism together,” Sharif said according to the Dawn news site.
"Such attacks are expected in the wake of a war and the country should not lose its strength," he added.
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UPDATE — 6:45 a.m. ET: The scene at the school and hospital.
Multiple reports said that distraught parents tried to break past a cordon to get to their children from the school when they heard the explosions.
The Associated Press described this heartbreaking scene at the hospital:
"My son was in uniform in the morning. He is in a casket now," wailed one parent, Tahir Ali, as he came to the hospital to collect the body of his 14-year-old son Abdullah. "My son was my dream. My dream has been killed."
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UPDATE — 6:15 a.m. ET: At least five terrorists killed.
Major Gen. Asim Bajwa, head of the Pakistani army’s public relations wing, said five terrorists have been killed.
#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, 2014This as Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported that two loud blasts were heard from the site.
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UPDATE — 6:00 a.m. ET: Pakistani officials say the death toll has risen.
The BBC, quoting Pakistani officials, reports that the death toll has reached 126 at this hour. Among those, 84 are believed to be children.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a “senseless act of unspeakable brutality.”
It is a senseless act of unspeakable brutality that has claimed lives of the most innocent of human beings - young children in their school.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2014My heart goes out to everyone who lost their loved ones today. We share their pain & offer our deepest condolences.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2014—
UPDATE — 4:28 a.m. ET: Pakistani minister says 84 are dead after the attack on the Peshawar school.
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Story by the Associated Press; curated by Oliver Darcy.
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Taliban gunmen stormed a military-run school in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Tuesday, killing 20 students and one soldier, officials said, in the highest-profile militant attack to hit the troubled region in months.
The attack began in the morning hours, with the gunmen entering the school — which has students in grades 1-10 — and shooting at random, said police officer Javed Khan. Army commandos quickly arrived at the scene and exchanged fire with the gunmen, he said.
Outside the school, shooting was initially heard along with one loud bang of unknown origin. Details were sketchy in the unfolding situation and it was unclear what was going on inside and if there were any hostages among the students.
A hospital security guard helps a student injured in the shootout at a school under attack by Taliban gunmen in Peshawar, Pakistan,Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014. Taliban gunmen stormed a military school in the northwestern Pakistani city, killing and wounding dozens, officials said, in the latest militant violence to hit the already troubled region. (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)
Pakistani television showed soldiers surrounding the area and pushing people back.
Jamil Shah, a spokesman for Lady Reading Hospital, says 20 students were killed, along with one paramilitary soldier. It was not clear whether the soldier was already on the scene when the violence began or was part of the troops who arrived later. The spokesman said that 36 people were also wounded, including two teachers. The rest of the wounded were students, he said.
The Pakistani military said in a statement that a rescue operation was underway and that most of the students and the staff had been evacuated. The school is located on the edge of a military cantonment in Peshawar, but the bulk of the students are civilian.
Later, one of the wounded students, Abdullah Jamal, said that he was with a group of 8th, 9th and 10th graders who were getting first-aid instructions and training with a team of Pakistani army medics when the violence began for real.
When the shooting started, Jamal, who was shot in the leg, said nobody knew what was going on in the first few seconds.
"Then I saw children falling down who were crying and screaming. I also fell down. I learned later that I have got a bullet," he said, speaking from his hospital bed.
"All the children had bullet wounds. All the children were bleeding," Jamal added.
[sharequote="center"]"Then I saw children falling down who were crying and screaming."[/sharequote]
Taliban spokesman Mohammed Khurasani claimed responsibility for the attack in a phone call to media, saying that six suicide bombers had carried out the attack in revenge for the killings of Taliban members at the hands of Pakistani authorities.
Pakistani rescue workers take out students from an ambulance who injured in the shootout at a school under attack by Taliban gunmen, upon arrival at a local hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014. Taliban gunmen stormed a military school in the northwestern Pakistani city, killing and wounding dozens, officials said, in the latest militant violence to hit the already troubled region. (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)
Peshawar has been the target of frequent militant attacks in the past but has seen a relative lull recently.
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