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                Taliban Kills at Least 80 at NW Pakistan School

   by VOA News

   Pakistani officials say Taliban militants have stormed a school in the
   northwestern city of Peshawar, killing at least 80 people, most of them
   students.

   A provincial official said the militants also wounded at least 80
   others Tuesday at the military-run school. Hospital officials said many
   of the wounded were in critical condition.

   Up to six men armed with automatic weapons entered the school, and one
   of them blew himself up. At least two other militants were killed.

   A provincial government spokesman told reporters the militants were
   wearing army uniforms.

   Army officials said most of the students and staff have been evacuated,
   while others remained hostage inside the school's auditorium.
   Officials say a rescue operation is ongoing.

   "We were standing outside the school and firing suddenly started and
   there was chaos everywhere and the screams of children and teachers,"
   said Jamshed Khan, a school bus driver.

   A teacher said that the attackers targeted the school while exams were
   taking place.

   "After half an hour of the attack, the army came and sealed the
   school," a teacher told a private television channel outside the
   besieged school. "We were in the examination hall when the attack took
   place," he said. "Now the army men are clearing the classes one by
   one."

   Taliban spokesman Muhammad Umar Khorasani told Reuters his group was
   responsible for the attack.

   "Our suicide bombers have entered the school, they have instructions
   not to harm the children, but to target the army personnel," he
   said. "It's a revenge attack for the army offensive in North
   Waziristan," he said, referring to an anti-Taliban military offensive
   that began in June.

   The area has served as a major sanctuary and training ground for
   Pakistani and Afghan insurgents responsible for terrorist attacks on
   both sides of the mostly porous border.

   Some material for this report came from Reuters.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-taliban-gunmen-attack-military-run-school-in-nw-pakistan/2560556.html