Over eighty students and at least one soldier have been killed in a Taliban attack on a military school in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar, officials have said.
Hundreds of students were in the school at time of attack and it is believed hostages have been taken.
News agencies reported a Pakistani minister as saying that at least 84 children were killed in the attack.
Three suspects have been killed and as many as five remain inside the building after they gained access by dressing up as paramilitary soldiers, Pervez Khattak, chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, told reporters.
“In CMH (Combined Military Hospital) there are around 60 and there are 24 dead in Lady Reading (hospital),” Mr Khattak said.
Jamil Shah, a spokesman for Lady Reading Hospital, said the dead soldier was a member of the Pakistani paramilitary forces.
The attack started with the gunmen entering the school in the early hours and started shooting at random, said police officer Javed Khan. Army commandos quickly arrived at the scene and exchanged fire with the gunmen, he added.
Between 500 and 1,500 students and teachers were believed to be in the school at the time of the attack. Hundreds are thought to have been taken hostage.
Outside the school, shooting was initially heard, and one loud bang of unknown origin. Details were sketchy in the unfolding situation and it was unclear what was going on inside the school and if any of the students were taken hostage.
Pakistani television showed soldiers surrounding the area and pushing people back.
Later, one of the wounded students, Abdullah Jamal, said 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 attack began.
When the shooting started, Mr 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,” he added.
The army said in a statement that many hostages had been evacuated but did not say how many. “Rescue operation by troops underway. Exchange of fire continues. Bulk of student(s) and staff evacuated.
Reports of some children and teachers killed by terrorist,” the army said in a brief English-language statement.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/worl...hool-1.2039438