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| Pakistan university attack: at least 30 dead as gunmen storm Bacha Khan campus – live updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 8.42am GMT | |
| 08:42 | |
| A student from the universtiy recalls hearing the gun battles. | |
| Aizaz Khan said students were told to stay in their rooms as the gun battle unfolded. He said the soldiers showed “great bravery” in tackling the gunmen. | |
| 8.38am GMT | |
| 08:38 | |
| Jon Boone | |
| Salman Khan, an operating theatre technician at the Charsadda district hospital, said the critically injured had head and chest wounds, writes Jon Boone. | |
| Fifty of the most seriously wounded have been moved to the larger Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, the nearby provincial capital. | |
| 8.35am GMT | |
| 08:35 | |
| One of the victims has been named as chemistry lecturer Syed Hamid Hussain, according to Pakistan’s Express Tribune. | |
| Witnesses said he died trying to fight the attackers. | |
| It quotes student Zahoor Ahmed saying Hussain had warned him not to leave the building after the first shots were fired. | |
| “He was holding a pistol in his hand,” he said. | |
| “Then I saw a bullet hit him. I saw two militants were firing. I ran inside and then managed to flee by jumping over the back wall.” | |
| Another student also described seeing the chemistry professor holding a pistol and firing at the attackers. | |
| “We saw him fall down and as the terrorists entered the (registrar) office we ran away.” | |
| Chemistry lecturer Syed Hamid Hussain died fighting against militants #BachaKhanUniversity https://t.co/6R7uLcXplW pic.twitter.com/mLXiDX1ohg | |
| Updated | |
| at 8.44am GMT | |
| 8.24am GMT | |
| 08:24 | |
| The Dawn news site points out that before today’s attack Pakistan already had the highest number of people killed. | |
| With 850 attacks Pakistan has the highest number of attacks on places of learning by country, Dawn said citing figures from Global Terrorism Database (GTD) at the University of Maryland, Dawn said | |
| More than 140 students and staff were killed just over a year ago at an army school in Peshawar. | |
| 8.12am GMT | |
| 08:12 | |
| The government of Pakistan has issued a statement condemning the attack. It said: | |
| President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have condemned terrorist attack and directed security agencies to clear the university of terrorists at the earliest. The Prime Minister House spokesman said Nawaz Sharif is personally monitoring the situation and he is being kept updated about the latest development. The PrimeMinister expressed sorrow and grief on the loss of precious lives in the terror attack. He said those who attacked innocent students and citizens have no religion and the government is committed to eliminate them. | |
| Speaker and Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Chief Ministers of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh and PTI Chief Imran Khan have also condemned the terrorist attack. | |
| 8.05am GMT | 8.05am GMT |
| 08:05 | 08:05 |
| Witness: students indiscriminately shot | Witness: students indiscriminately shot |
| Jon Boone | Jon Boone |
| At midday a provincial minister revised the death toll to up to 30, although eye witnesses said the final number would be far higher, writes Jon Boone. | At midday a provincial minister revised the death toll to up to 30, although eye witnesses said the final number would be far higher, writes Jon Boone. |
| Naseer, a 23 year old student, said he counted 56 bodies and saw gunmen shooting male and female students “without discrimination”. | Naseer, a 23 year old student, said he counted 56 bodies and saw gunmen shooting male and female students “without discrimination”. |
| “They were directly shooting at the heads of the students,” he said. | “They were directly shooting at the heads of the students,” he said. |
| Iftikar Khan, the owner of a travel agency in Charsadda, visited the city hospital where he estimated a stream of ambulances delivered well over 100 bodies. | Iftikar Khan, the owner of a travel agency in Charsadda, visited the city hospital where he estimated a stream of ambulances delivered well over 100 bodies. |
| “A lot of them were girls,” he said. | “A lot of them were girls,” he said. |
| A male student just told me militants entered the campus and started killing students indiscriminately Both male and female students were shot, he said. | A male student just told me militants entered the campus and started killing students indiscriminately Both male and female students were shot, he said. |
| 8.00am GMT | 8.00am GMT |
| 08:00 | 08:00 |
| The number of people killed in the attack is difficult to pin down as officials give varying figures. | The number of people killed in the attack is difficult to pin down as officials give varying figures. |
| AFP says at least 21 people were killed. “The death toll in the terrorist attack has risen to 21,” regional police chief Saeed Wazir told the agency. | AFP says at least 21 people were killed. “The death toll in the terrorist attack has risen to 21,” regional police chief Saeed Wazir told the agency. |
| AP cites an unnamed official giving a figure of 19 killed. | AP cites an unnamed official giving a figure of 19 killed. |
| BREAKING: Pakistani official says the death toll in attack on a northwestern university has risen to 19 | BREAKING: Pakistani official says the death toll in attack on a northwestern university has risen to 19 |
| Within the last few minutes Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, the Khyber Paktunkhwa health minister, is reported to have said that up 31 people were killed. Earlier he warned that the death toll is likely to rise. | Within the last few minutes Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, the Khyber Paktunkhwa health minister, is reported to have said that up 31 people were killed. Earlier he warned that the death toll is likely to rise. |
| #Charsadda: 25 to 31 people believe to be martyred in attack on #BachaKhanUniversity, says Shaukat Y pic.twitter. pic.twitter.com/Pl1VJqpis7 | #Charsadda: 25 to 31 people believe to be martyred in attack on #BachaKhanUniversity, says Shaukat Y pic.twitter. pic.twitter.com/Pl1VJqpis7 |
| 7.44am GMT | 7.44am GMT |
| 07:44 | 07:44 |
| What we know so far | What we know so far |
| Matthew Weaver | Matthew Weaver |
| Here’s a summary of what we know so far: | Here’s a summary of what we know so far: |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.47am GMT | at 7.47am GMT |
| 7.25am GMT | 7.25am GMT |
| 07:25 | 07:25 |
| The Army spokesman on the ground, Asim Bajwa, says the campus has fallen quiet and no gunfire can be heard as security forces continue their sweep of the campus. | The Army spokesman on the ground, Asim Bajwa, says the campus has fallen quiet and no gunfire can be heard as security forces continue their sweep of the campus. |
| Charsadda Update:clearance of university block by block continues by Army troops.No firing being heard | Charsadda Update:clearance of university block by block continues by Army troops.No firing being heard |
| 7.21am GMT | 7.21am GMT |
| 07:21 | 07:21 |
| Jon Boone, our correspondent, has more on how the attack unfolded: | Jon Boone, our correspondent, has more on how the attack unfolded: |
| Sohail Khalid, a local police officer, said the attackers took advantage of thick winter fog that shrouded the university in the morning to enter the campus through nearby agricultural land. | Sohail Khalid, a local police officer, said the attackers took advantage of thick winter fog that shrouded the university in the morning to enter the campus through nearby agricultural land. |
| Security was enhanced at all educational institutions in Pakistan following the December 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar which left more than 130 students dead. | Security was enhanced at all educational institutions in Pakistan following the December 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar which left more than 130 students dead. |
| Khalid said a festival of poetry and Pashtun culture had been underway with many attendees and poets on the campus at the time. | Khalid said a festival of poetry and Pashtun culture had been underway with many attendees and poets on the campus at the time. |
| 7.19am GMT | 7.19am GMT |
| 07:19 | 07:19 |
| A still from outside the university shows emergency personnel carrying stretchers for people injured in the attack. | A still from outside the university shows emergency personnel carrying stretchers for people injured in the attack. |
| 7.13am GMT | 7.13am GMT |
| 07:13 | 07:13 |
| Our Pakistan correspondent Jon Boone has just sent this in: | Our Pakistan correspondent Jon Boone has just sent this in: |
| Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, the Khyber Paktunkhwa health minister, says so far 20 are confirmed dead and 60 injured. He warned the death toll will rise. | Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, the Khyber Paktunkhwa health minister, says so far 20 are confirmed dead and 60 injured. He warned the death toll will rise. |
| The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility and said four gunmen armed with suicide bomb vests attacked the university. | The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility and said four gunmen armed with suicide bomb vests attacked the university. |
| 7.10am GMT | 7.10am GMT |
| 07:10 | 07:10 |
| There are now multiple reports attributed to the Pakistani information minister that 20 people have been killed, however the Guardian has not been able to verify this. | There are now multiple reports attributed to the Pakistani information minister that 20 people have been killed, however the Guardian has not been able to verify this. |
| 7.05am GMT | 7.05am GMT |
| 07:05 | 07:05 |
| One witness who escaped told Dawn News that the attackers had taken position at the entry points of the school: | One witness who escaped told Dawn News that the attackers had taken position at the entry points of the school: |
| “I saw three attackers engaged in an exchange of fire with security guards of the university. One was positioned at the roof, another near the corner and the third near the wall.” | “I saw three attackers engaged in an exchange of fire with security guards of the university. One was positioned at the roof, another near the corner and the third near the wall.” |
| “We rescued the university’s guards and then I saw the attackers engage the arriving police party.” | “We rescued the university’s guards and then I saw the attackers engage the arriving police party.” |
| 7.01am GMT | 7.01am GMT |
| 07:01 | 07:01 |
| Reuters is reporting a total of eight people dead, with firing continuing inside the campus. Deputy inspector general Saeed Wazir said at least three students have been killed in the attack. | Reuters is reporting a total of eight people dead, with firing continuing inside the campus. Deputy inspector general Saeed Wazir said at least three students have been killed in the attack. |
| 6.58am GMT | 6.58am GMT |
| 06:58 | 06:58 |
| Four terrorists are now confirmed to have been killed in the operation to secure the campus. | Four terrorists are now confirmed to have been killed in the operation to secure the campus. |
| Update:Snipers killed 2 more terrorists on roof top,total Terrorist killed so far 4.All buildings&roof top taken over by Army.op continues-3 | Update:Snipers killed 2 more terrorists on roof top,total Terrorist killed so far 4.All buildings&roof top taken over by Army.op continues-3 |
| 6.55am GMT | 6.55am GMT |
| 06:55 | 06:55 |
| An update on the death toll from the attack: Pakistan media are reporting that the emergency services say there are at least seven dead and 12 injured. | An update on the death toll from the attack: Pakistan media are reporting that the emergency services say there are at least seven dead and 12 injured. |
| 6.51am GMT | 6.51am GMT |
| 06:51 | 06:51 |
| Bacha Khan University is a public-sector institute established in July 2012 and named after Pashtun independence and peace activist Abdul Ghaffar Khan. | Bacha Khan University is a public-sector institute established in July 2012 and named after Pashtun independence and peace activist Abdul Ghaffar Khan. |
| It describes its mission as “foster creative and critical thinking” among its students with a particular focus on scientific research.Khan was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and has had airports and medical colleges named after him. | It describes its mission as “foster creative and critical thinking” among its students with a particular focus on scientific research.Khan was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and has had airports and medical colleges named after him. |
| Khan, who fiercely opposed the division of India, died on 20 January 1988, in Peshawar while under house arrest. He was buried in Jalalabad. Thousands attended his funeral, which was hit by two bomb explosions in which 15 people died. | Khan, who fiercely opposed the division of India, died on 20 January 1988, in Peshawar while under house arrest. He was buried in Jalalabad. Thousands attended his funeral, which was hit by two bomb explosions in which 15 people died. |
| Today is the 28th anniversary of his death. | Today is the 28th anniversary of his death. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.56am GMT | at 6.56am GMT |
| 6.49am GMT | 6.49am GMT |
| 06:49 | 06:49 |
| At least two terrorists have been confirmed dead, according to the army’s spokesman. | At least two terrorists have been confirmed dead, according to the army’s spokesman. |
| Update Charsadda:Two more terrorists who were firing from inside the Block cordoned by Army troops,shot&killed.Op continues | Update Charsadda:Two more terrorists who were firing from inside the Block cordoned by Army troops,shot&killed.Op continues |
| 6.47am GMT | 6.47am GMT |
| 06:47 | 06:47 |
| There are reports that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have claimed responsibility for the attack. The militant group has a habit of grabbing global headlines. | There are reports that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have claimed responsibility for the attack. The militant group has a habit of grabbing global headlines. |
| 6.42am GMT | 6.42am GMT |
| 06:42 | 06:42 |
| The Pakistani prime minister has expressed his sorrow over news of the attack. | The Pakistani prime minister has expressed his sorrow over news of the attack. |
| 6.40am GMT | 6.40am GMT |
| 06:40 | 06:40 |
| There is a large military presence outside the campus now. | There is a large military presence outside the campus now. |
| 6.38am GMT | 6.38am GMT |
| 06:38 | 06:38 |
| There were hundreds of people at the university when the attack began. The Bacha Khan University teaches over 3,000 students and hosted an additional 600 visitors on Wednesday for a poetry recital. | There were hundreds of people at the university when the attack began. The Bacha Khan University teaches over 3,000 students and hosted an additional 600 visitors on Wednesday for a poetry recital. |
| 6.37am GMT | 6.37am GMT |
| 06:37 | 06:37 |
| An update on the injured from deputy inspector general Saeed Wazir, who told Reuters three security guards, one university lecturer and one student were critically wounded but there were no confirmed deaths. He said 70% of students had been rescued. | An update on the injured from deputy inspector general Saeed Wazir, who told Reuters three security guards, one university lecturer and one student were critically wounded but there were no confirmed deaths. He said 70% of students had been rescued. |
| 6.36am GMT | 6.36am GMT |
| 06:36 | 06:36 |
| Reuters has spoken to a university lecturer who overheard police saying many people had been killed: | Reuters has spoken to a university lecturer who overheard police saying many people had been killed: |
| Shabir Khan, a lecturer in the English department, said he was about to leave the hostel for the department when firing began. | Shabir Khan, a lecturer in the English department, said he was about to leave the hostel for the department when firing began. |
| “Most of the students and staff were in classes when the firing began,” Khan said. “I have no idea about what’s going on but I heard one security official talking on the phone to someone and said many people had been killed and injured.” | “Most of the students and staff were in classes when the firing began,” Khan said. “I have no idea about what’s going on but I heard one security official talking on the phone to someone and said many people had been killed and injured.” |
| 6.34am GMT | 6.34am GMT |
| 06:34 | 06:34 |
| Images from the scene show security personnel outside the university grounds. | Images from the scene show security personnel outside the university grounds. |