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== Reaction == |
== Reaction == |
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;Domestic: |
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Prime Minister [[Nawaz Sharif]], who was in Zurich to attend the [[World Economic Forum]], said: "I'm deeply grieved over the attack, and we are determined and resolved in our commitment to wipe out the menace of terrorism from our homeland."<ref name=dawn /> Chief of Army Staff General [[Raheel Sharif]] reached Charsadda to boost the morale of the security personnel and took part in the operation.<ref name=dawn /> |
Prime Minister [[Nawaz Sharif]], who was in Zurich to attend the [[World Economic Forum]], said: "I'm deeply grieved over the attack, and we are determined and resolved in our commitment to wipe out the menace of terrorism from our homeland."<ref name=dawn /> Chief of Army Staff General [[Raheel Sharif]] reached Charsadda to boost the morale of the security personnel and took part in the operation.<ref name=dawn /> |
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Provincial Public Health Engineering Minister Shah Farman said: "54 security guards were stationed at the university. Around 200 people were present in the examination hall, all of whom were rescued, and timely action by police and army has prevented large scale damage".<ref name=dawn /> The Education Department in Charsadda has announced the closure of all schools for 10 days.<ref name="trib" /> |
Provincial Public Health Engineering Minister Shah Farman said: "54 security guards were stationed at the university. Around 200 people were present in the examination hall, all of whom were rescued, and timely action by police and army has prevented large scale damage".<ref name=dawn /> The Education Department in Charsadda has announced the closure of all schools for 10 days.<ref name="trib" /> |
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;International: |
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*{{Flag|European Union}}: [[High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy|High Representative for Foreign Affairs]] [[Federica Mogherini]] extended condolences to the relatives and friends of the victims and stated that this attack had been against all who believed in the power and the importance of education. Federica Mogherini also assured people of Pakistan that they are not alone in their fight against terrorism.<ref>{{cite news|title=Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini on the attack on the Bacha Khan University, Pakistan|url=http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2016/160120_02_en.htm|accessdate=20 January 2016|work=European External Action Service }}</ref> |
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*{{flagu|India}} – Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] condemned the attack and offered his condolences to the families of the deceased.<ref name=dawn /> |
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*{{flagu|Italy}} – Ambassador of Italy to Pakistan Stefano Pontecorvo condemned the attack."Heartfelt thoughts and prayers to victims, wounded and their families," a statement from the embassy said.<ref name=ary>{{cite news|title=Ambassadors condemn attack on Bacha Khan University in Pakistan|url=http://arynews.tv/en/prominent-personalities-condemn-charsadda-attack-vehemently-on-twitter/|accessdate=20 January 2016|work=arynews.tv}}</ref> |
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*{{flagu|United Kingdom}} – British High Commissioner to Pakistan [[Philip Barton]] condemned the attack saying "[We are] very concerned by the reports of the attack at [[Charsadda]]. My thoughts and prayers are with students, faculty and all those affected."<ref name=ary /> |
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*{{flagu|United States}} – [[Embassy of the United States, Islamabad|Embassy of the United States]], strongly condemned the terrorist attack in [[Charsadda]]. "Our thoughts are with the victims and their families," a statement from the embassy said.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://islamabad.usembassy.gov/pr-012016.html | title=American Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale Condemns Charsadda Attack | date=20 January 2016 | accessdate=21 January 2016}}</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
Revision as of 21:17, 20 January 2016
2016 Charsaddas university attack | |
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Part of the War in North-West Pakistan | |
Native name | چارسدہ یونیورسٹی حملہ |
Location | Charsadda, Pakistan |
Date | 20 January 2016 |
Target | Bacha Khan University |
Attack type | Mass murder |
Weapons | Explosives and guns |
Deaths | 20+[1] |
Injured | 20+ |
Victims | University students |
Perpetrators | Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan Geedar faction[2] |
On 20 January 2016, several gunmen opened fire at Bacha Khan University (Urdu: جامعہ باچاخان ) in Charsadda, Pakistan. It is located in the Charsadda District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. More than 20[1] people were killed and over 20 others were wounded. Over 200 students were rescued from the premises, while four gunmen were killed. The Geedar faction of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, although the Pakistani Taliban denied and condemned the assault.
Background
The attack came as the military announced the end of the clearance operations in the area.[3] A few days before the attack, authorities closed some schools in Peshawar because they believed an attack was being planned. The university was founded in 2012 and is in a rural location. A nearby school was attacked and 130 students were killed in 2014. A poetry gathering to honour Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (secular Pashtun nationalist leader after whom the university is named) may have been the target, as he opposed the Taliban and the Mujahadeen against the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.[4] The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, known to oppose the militarism of the War on Terror, was elected, against incumbency, to govern the province.
Pakistan has been affected by years of militant violence, which has seen hundreds of suspected militants killed and arrested under a crackdown launched after the 2014 Peshawar school attack.[5] This was particularly acute after the Siege of Lal Masjid and the War on Terror.
Attack
At 9:30 am, four men entered classrooms and accommodation blocks, opening fire on teachers and students; they were also armed with suicide vests.[6] The attack happened as the students and faculty members gathered at the school for a poetry recital to commemorate the death anniversary of Gandhian Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. The university was reportedly not adequately secured, especially at the backside of the building, which had low boundary walls.[3]
According to provincial Health Minister Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, more than 30 people have been killed and over 60 wounded, including students and an assistant professor. More than 60 students were rescued from the premises.[1] According to an army spokesperson, four gunmen have been killed.[1][2][4][7][8][9] Witnesses reported that an assistant professor, Syed Hamid Hussain, armed with a pistol, fired at the assailants.[1]
Victims
Victims included students, guards, policemen and at least one teacher, Syed Hamid Hussain.[5] A security official said the death toll could rise to as high as 40 as army commandos cleared out student hostels and classrooms.[5]
It was reported that the attackers gave stiff resistance to state security forces as they engaged in an operation to clear the university over several hours. Unnamed intelligence sources said eight to 10 attackers were inside the school and that they were between 18 and 25 years old wearing civilian clothes with their faces covered.[3]
Hamid Hussain, who was an assistant professor of chemistry at the university, was reportedly tried to protect his students by opening fire on attackers and was hailed as a "martyr" and a "gentleman". A student described what happened, saying: "Hussain was holding a pistol and firing at the attackers. Then I saw a bullet hit him. Then we saw him fall down and as the terrorists entered the office we ran away.” Tributes were paid to the slain academic on social media sites.[10]
Perpetrator
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility.[2] The attacker is believed to be Khalifa Omar Mansoor, of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan's Geedar group, who was the alleged mastermind of the 2014 Peshawar school massacre. Mansoor claimed the attack through a post on his Facebook page, adding that four attackers were sent to the university.[3] Mansoor told the media that the attack was in response to a military offensive against militant strongholds.[4] However, the group's main spokesman, Mohammad Khurasani, later said the Pakistani Taliban had not been involved. He also condemned the attack as "un-Islamic."[4]
Reaction
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was in Zurich to attend the World Economic Forum, said: "I'm deeply grieved over the attack, and we are determined and resolved in our commitment to wipe out the menace of terrorism from our homeland."[3] Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif reached Charsadda to boost the morale of the security personnel and took part in the operation.[3]
Provincial Public Health Engineering Minister Shah Farman said: "54 security guards were stationed at the university. Around 200 people were present in the examination hall, all of whom were rescued, and timely action by police and army has prevented large scale damage".[3] The Education Department in Charsadda has announced the closure of all schools for 10 days.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "LIVE: Seven killed, 12 injured as gunmen attack Bacha Khan University in Charsadda – The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ a b c "Gunmen storm university in northwest Pakistan". Al Jazeera. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g "APS mastermind claims Bacha Khan University attack, 21 killed". Dawn. Pakistan. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Pakistan Charsadda: Gun battle rages at university – BBC News". BBC News. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ a b c "30 dead as gunmen open fire on students at Pakistan university". Daily Mail. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ Boone, Jon (20 January 2016). "Pakistan attacks: at least 30 killed in terror raid at Bacha Khan university". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ McKirty, Euan; Safi, Sophia (20 January 2016). "Pakistan university militant attack – CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ "Gunmen attack Pakistan university, kill at least eight people". Reuters. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ "Edhi volunteer claims 15 killed in terror attack on Bacha Khan University Charsadda". Dawn. Pakistan. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ "Chemistry teacher defies Taliban in Bacha Khan University attack". Dawn. Pakistan. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.