#Peshawar: 132 children among 141 had been killed by terror attack in army school of #Peshawar of Pakistan on Tuesday.
#Insurgents stormed an army-run school and killed 141 people and systematically went from room to room, shooting children during an eight-hour killing spree.
#Tehreek-e-#Taliban Pakistan (#TTP) had taken the claim as a revenge for a major military offensive in the region, sparked condemnation worldwide and led the Pakistani government and military to reaffirm their determination to defeat a group that has killed thousands since it began its insurgency in 2007.
Teenage survivor #Shahrukh #Khan, who ducked below his desk with classmates when four gunmen burst into their room, described how he played dead after being shot in both legs, stuffing his tie into his mouth to stifle his screams.
16-year-old Shahrukh said, “I saw a pair of big black boots coming towards me, this guy was probably hunting for students hiding beneath the benches.”
He said, “The man with big boots kept on looking for students and pumping bullets into their bodies. I lay as still as I could and closed my eyes, waiting to get shot again.”
“My body was shivering. I saw death so close and I will never forget the black boots approaching me — I felt as though it was death that was approaching me.”
Pakistani #Prime #Minister #Nawaz #Sharif had described the attack as a “national tragedy unleashed by savages” and announced three days of national mourning.
#Pak #PM Sharif said, “These were my children. This is my loss. This is the nation’s loss.”
#European leaders had condemned the attack. Prime Minister of #Australia #Tony #Abbott offered his own sympathy to Pakistan, as his government deals with the fallout from a cafe siege by a deranged Islamist gunman.
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi had called Sharif to offer condolences.
PM Modi tweeted, “Told PM Sharif we are ready to provide all assistance during this hour of grief.”
125 people had been wounded in the assault. The death toll exceeded the 139 killed in blasts targeting former Prime Minister #Benazir #Bhutto in #Karachi in 2007, said Chief #military spokesperson #General #Asim #Bajwa.
He further said that there were around 500 students in the school when the attack started and the attackers, equipped with ammunition and food to last “days”, only wanted to kill.
He said that the terrorists started indiscriminate firing as they entered the auditorium so they had no intention of taking any hostages.
Funerals of many of the victims had taken place by Tuesday evening, with the rest to follow Wednesday.
The #Lady #Reading #Hospital was thronged with distraught.
As the bodies of children arrived, parents had started weeping uncontrollably as their school uniforms drenched in blood.
Tuesday’s attack was shocking even by the standards of Pakistan, which has suffered thousands of deaths in bomb and gun attacks since the TTP rose up in 2007.
TTP spokesperson #Muhammad #Khorasani said Tuesday’s assault was carried out to avenge Taliban fighters and their families killed in the army’s offensive against militant strongholds in North Waziristan.
He said, “We are doing this because we want them to feel the pain of how terrible it is when your loved ones are killed. We are taking this step so that their families should mourn as ours are mourning.”
Meanwhile a high alert had been alarmed in National Capital Delhi and NCR in the wake of terror attack in Pakistan’s Peshawar.
Schools of India had pay tribute to the victims of Pakistan on Wednesday. Many schools and colleges spread across the country observed a two minutes silence as a mark of respect for those killed in the dastardly terror attack.
Bureau Report
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