15 killed in terror attack in Pakistan’s University

Unidentified gunmen have entered Bacha Khan University in Khyber Pakhtunkha’s Charsadda town of Pakistan and opened fire on students and faculty members as they gathered at the school for a poetry recital to commemorate the death anniversary of the activist and leader whom the school is named after, says Dwan.

Mass casualties are feared in an attack reminiscent of the deadly December 2014 terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar which left over 140 dead — most of them students.

DIG Saeed Wazir says two attackers have been killed. Security personnel are still entering the school to control the situation.

Wazir tells Reuters he believes most of the students had been rescued but several gunmen remained at large inside the university.

The remaining terrorists are giving stiff resistance to security forces as they continue the clearance operation. Intelligence sources say eight to 10 terrorists are still inside the school.

The families of students have lined up outside the school. Journalists and all other non-essential personnel have been asked to stay back in order to not interfere with the ongoing security operation. Up to 20 ambulances have entered the university to rescue the injured.

Security forces, including SSG Special Forces have entered the premises of the university.

An Edhi volunteer says he has seen the bodies of at least 15 persons. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) represntative Shaukaut Yousafzai said between 50 to 60 people have been wounded. He added there was no prior threat in this regard.

At least three to four security guards are injured, an eye-witness who managed to come out of the premises said. The Associated Press quotes police as saying gunmen killed a professor and a student in the attack.

DIG Saeed Wazir confirmed that two students and chemistry professor Dr Hamid have been killed in the attack.

According to one eyewitness who escaped the university, 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."

"We rescued the university`s guards and then I saw the attackers engage the arriving police party."

Attackers are believed to be on the second and third floors of the campus buildings.

Rescue officials say some 50 students have been rescued from the premises.

Out of these 50, five students are injured and have been shifted to District Headquarters Hospital, Charsadda for treatment. An emergency has been imposed in all hospitals in the town.

Snipers have taken position around the premises, with monitoring being provided by aerial assets.

An eyewitness rescued from the university said the university was not adequately secured, especially at the backside of the building, which had low boundary walls.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa`s Member of Provincial Assembly Arshad Ali told Dawnnews that the attackers entered the university after scaling its walls.

MPA Fazal Shakoor, who was elected from Charsadda, says army contingents have also arrived at the scene and that firing is continuing.

Former provincial health minister Shaukat Yousafzai speaking at the site said, "This is a frontline province. We are fighting Pakistan`s war in this province."

"This is international terrorism. This province is a target of terrorism. We are making full efforts to combat terrorism and it has dropped. The backs of terrorists have been broken and they are breathing their last. This stunt is an attempt to breathe life into their cause."

A rescue official talking to DawnNews quoted a rescued student as claiming that 60 to 70 students had been shot in the head by the attackers.

The student added that the attack is reminiscent of the Army Public School Peshawar attack.
The claim could not be independently verified.

Militants stormed Peshawar`s Army Public School on Dec 16, 2014, killing at least 144 people ─ most of whom were children. The attack was claimed by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

Eyewitnesses report having heard three blasts inside the university.

The state-run PTV quotes DSP Charsadda as saying that three armed men entered the university premises and opened fire.

Television reports added that a large contingent of security forces had reached the site. A helicopter of the Pakistan Army is monitoring the situation from the air.