Screams heard from school, more than 100 dead

Armed men took hundreds of students and their teachers hostage in a school in the city of Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan, a military official said, adding that it was a Taliban attack. Reuters reports that they have confirmed from the hospital that 12 people were killed and about 40 injured in the attack, reports the Patria News Agency. 

About 20 people were killed in the rescue operation, including at least 16 children, while about 40 were injured.

A Reuters reporter at the scene confirmed that gunfire was heard from the school as Pakistani army personnel surrounded it. Witnesses state that some students were injured and were taken to the hospital by ambulance.

"We were in front of the school when suddenly gunfire started and chaos erupted everywhere... screams of students and teachers were heard," said school bus driver Jamshed Kan.

Military officials said at least six armed men stormed a public school run by the army. It is believed that about 500 students and their teachers are in the school.

The kidnapping was also confirmed by the Taliban.

"Our suicide bombers have entered the school, they have instructions not to touch the children, their target is the school's military personnel," said Taliban spokesman Muhammad Umar Khorasani.

According to the latest information, the terrorists have been pushed back and cornered into four parts of the school, four attackers have been killed so far, military sources report. The Pakistani army operation is still ongoing. 

The death toll has risen to 126, and 122 people have been injured in the attack, Pakistani officials stated.