Peshawar school attack great loss Of Pakistan
After almost seven hours, the Pakistan Army ended its operation in the Army School of Peshawar, reports say.
Pakistan Army took control over the Army School after they gunned down the last terrorist. The gunbattle between the Army and the militants lasted for seven hours.
In one of the deadliest attacks in recent times, the TTP killed 132 people, including more than 100 schoolchildren and injured more than 250.
The operation, which started at about 11 on Tuesday morning, sent shock waves across the world. World leaders condemned the attack.
Reports said that total of 15 blasts were heard inside the school campus. While one of the TTP gunmen blew himself up, five others were shot dead by the Pakistan Army.
Hospitals swarmed with those who were severely injured and distraught parents and family. The hospitals were not prepared for the sudden emergency and reports added that there was a crippling shortage of blood in the Lady Reading Hospital.
The Nawaz Sharif government also announced a three-day national mourning.
The TTP terrorists, reports said, came through a graveyard situated behind the school and indiscriminately fired at unarmed schoolchildren.
6.01 pm: Sixth and last terrorist killed by Pakistan army
Pakistan Army spokesperson Asim Bajwa confirmed that the sixth and the last terrorist has been killed in the final phase of assault by the army. Reports also confirmed that one of the terrorist blew himself up. The spokesperson added that two more children and two teachers have been rescued.
Bajwal added that planted IEDs were slowing down the speed of clearance during the operation.
4.26 pm: Those were my children, says Nawaz Sharif
As newspapers and channels reported an increase in the death toll, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a statement said, “It is a national tragedy. Those were my kids, my loss.”
PM Sharif was in Peshawar and announced three days of national mourning after the attack. The Prime Minister, speaking to the media in Peshawar, said that the government and the Army together will act against terrorism in the country.
According to the PM, the ‘cowardly’ attack has only strengthened their resolve to fight against terror in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Army, meanwhile, confirmed that they have begun the final assault on the terrorists who are holed up inside the school.
In a report, Times Now said that five terrorists have been gunned down. The reports came as the death toll went up and Pakistani officials confirmed that over 120 schoolchildren have been killed in the attack.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister’s office confirmed to Pakistan media that the death toll has crossed 130. The Dawn reported that the Taliban militants gunned down over 130 Pakistanis which included over 100 schoolchildren.
According to a report in The Dawn, as many as 10 explosions were heard from inside the school campus. The latest report also added that of the four blocks that the militants were confined to, security forces have managed to clear three.
