Pakistan mourns after Taliban Peshawar school massacre

The Pakistani city of Peshawar has begun burying its dead after a Taliban attack at a school killed at least 132 children and nine staff.

Sang MIO - Mourners crowded around coffins bedecked with flowers, while other families waited at hospitals for news.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declared three days of mourning and Pakistan's army struck at militants in the region.

Mr Sharif also convened a meeting of all parliamentary parties in Peshawar to discuss the response to the attack.

The meeting on Wednesday was called to show that the whole nation stood against extremism, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid told reporters.

World leaders voiced disgust at the Taliban's deadliest attack to date, which even its Afghan allies disowned.

According to the army, Tuesday's attack was carried out by seven Taliban attackers, all wearing bomb vests.

They cut through a wire fence to enter the school from the rear and attacked an auditorium where children were taking an exam.

Gunmen then went from classroom to classroom at the military-run school, shooting pupils and teachers where they found them, survivors say.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif: "The anti-terrorism campaign in Pakistan will continue until terrorism is rooted out"

The siege at Peshawar's Army Public School, which teaches boys and girls from both military and civilian backgrounds, lasted eight hours.

A total of 125 people were wounded, according to the army before all seven attackers were killed. Hundreds of people were evacuated.

The Pakistani Taliban sought to justify the attack by saying it was revenge for the army's ongoing campaign against them. The school was chosen as a target, the militants said, because their families had also suffered heavy losses.

In line with the Islamic custom, mourners began burying victims as darkness fell.

The bier carrying the shrouded body of one teacher was strewn with flowers as men crowded around it. 

Mourners crowded around coffins bedecked with flowers, while other families waited at hospitals for news.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declared three days of mourning and Pakistan's army struck at militants in the region.

Mr Sharif also convened a meeting of all parliamentary parties in Peshawar to discuss the response to the attack.

The meeting on Wednesday was called to show that the whole nation stood against extremism, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid told reporters.

World leaders voiced disgust at the Taliban's deadliest attack to date, which even its Afghan allies disowned.

According to the army, Tuesday's attack was carried out by seven Taliban attackers, all wearing bomb vests.

They cut through a wire fence to enter the school from the rear and attacked an auditorium where children were taking an exam.

Gunmen then went from classroom to classroom at the military-run school, shooting pupils and teachers where they found them, survivors say.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif: "The anti-terrorism campaign in Pakistan will continue until terrorism is rooted out"

The siege at Peshawar's Army Public School, which teaches boys and girls from both military and civilian backgrounds, lasted eight hours.

A total of 125 people were wounded, according to the army before all seven attackers were killed. Hundreds of people were evacuated.

The Pakistani Taliban sought to justify the attack by saying it was revenge for the army's ongoing campaign against them. The school was chosen as a target, the militants said, because their families had also suffered heavy losses.

In line with the Islamic custom, mourners began burying victims as darkness fell.

The bier carrying the shrouded body of one teacher was strewn with flowers as men crowded around it.

Source : Pakistan mourns after Taliban Peshawar school massacre