Three gunmen attack university in northwest Pakistan

There were about 3,000 students and 600 guests on the campus when the attack took place, Vice Chancellor of the university Dr Fazal Rahim said.

“Just over a year ago, there was a public outcry after the Taliban stormed an army school in Peshawar and killed more than 130 children”. Check back soon for further information.

In addition to the 20 fatalities, provincial Gov. Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan said that at least 50 other people had been injured in the attack at Bacha Khan University.

Intense gunfire and explosions were heard as security guards fought the attackers.

The attack began shortly after the Bacha Khan University opened for classes in the town of Charsadda, some 21 miles outside Peshawar, said deputy commissioner Tahir Zafar.

“The United States strongly condemns today’s attack on Bacha Khan University in Charsadda”.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said his administration will give a “ruthless response” to the perpetrators of the attack, which he said targeted all of Pakistan.

According to a report from the Daily Pakistan, one of the victims was identified as a chemistry professor.

Under a heavy morning fog yesterday, gunmen scaled the rear walls of the university at about 9am, firing into the air, said witnesses.

Pakistani security officials claimed “major breakthroughs” in their investigation into the attack, but said that exactly what they found out will be shared with the public “later”.

The local police chief reported that the attackers were wearing suicide vests and surviving students said the gunmen were using AK-47s. Another added: “We saw three terrorists shouting, ‘Allah is great!’ and rushing towards the stairs of our department”. “The university has its own security staff, but it’s not adequate enough to face the well-armed and -trained Taliban”, said the official, Salma Khan. “We are determined and resolved in our commitment to wipe out the menace of terrorism from our homeland”. “He reaffirms that attacks against students, teachers or schools can never be justified”.