20 People Dead as Gunmen Open Fire at Pakistani University
According to a report by Pakistani officials, twenty people have been feared dead after several gunmen stormed Bacha Khan University in Pakistan and opened fire on the students.
The official death toll was at 20, and about 50 people injured according to a statement by the provincial Gov. Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan. Four shooters were also reportedly killed.
Students, university staff and at least one professor are among the dead.
The gunmen stormed the University through a rear entrance, according to witnesses, and reportedly began breaking down doors to shoot at students. Witnesses report having also heard several explosions.
Pakistani Prime Minister Mawaz Sharif who is in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum at Davos has issued a statement to Pakistan’s government media where he expressed that he is deeply grieved over the sad incident of terrorists’ attack on Bacha Khan University, Charsada, which has reportedly resulted into the loss of precious human lives and injured many others. Issuing necessary directions to the law enforcement agencies for the earliest elimination of the terrorists, the Prime Minister is personally monitoring the situation and he is continuously informed on the measures taken to combat the terrorists.”
Omar Mansoor, the leader of a Pakistani Taliban splinter group and planner of the December 2014 Peshawar school massacre, has claimed responsibility for today’s attack.
