PESHAWAR : At least 25 people were killed and about 50 others injured today after heavily-armed Taliban militants stormed a prestigious university and opened indiscriminate fire on students and teachers in Pakistan’s restive northwest Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
The gunmen entered the Bacha Khan University in Charsadda district of the province, some 50 kms southwest of Peshawar, and opened fire on students and teachers in classrooms and hostels, media reports said.
Blasts and heavy gunfire were heard from inside the University campus.
Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf Party leader and provincial lawmaker Shaukat Yousafzai said that 25 people, including a professor, were killed and around 50 others injured in the terrorist attack on the University this morning.
The injured were shifted to hospital. An emergency has been declared in all hospitals in the town. All schools have been closed in the area.
Yousafzai said between four to 10 attackers were involved in attack. “Such cowardice attack could not shake the resolve of the Government in the fight against terrorism,” he said.
Soon after the attack, a large contingent of security forces rushed to the site and started evacuating students.
Pakistan Army troops also rushed to the University from Peshawar and started operation.
Army spokesman Lt Gen Asim Salim Bajwa tweeted that four terrorists were killed during operation launched by security forces to clear the University.
“Snipers killed 2 more terrorists on roof top, total Terrorist killed so far 4. All buildings & roof top taken over by Army…,” he tweeted. “Clearance of university block by block continues by Army troops.” (AGENCIES)
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