12 dead in northwest Pakistan university hostel attack

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan

At least 12 people, including three suspected militants were killed and dozens others injured during an attack on a university hostel in Peshawar, the capital of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province, according to army and police.

Among the dead are nine students while security personnel are included in the 32 injured, provincial emergency service Rescue 1122 spokesman Bilal Ahmed told Anadolu Agency.

A health department official told Anadolu Agency six bodies had been brought to Hyatabad Teaching Hospital; three more bodies were shifted to Khyber Teaching Hospital.

Provincial police chief Salauddin Khattak said heavily-armed militants stormed the hostel of Agricultural Directorate's research institute -- part of Agriculture University Peshawar -- early morning, opening fire followed by a bomb blast.

Army and police backed by armored personnel carriers soon after rushed to the scene, and launched an operation.

Khattak told reporters that more than a dozen students had been rescued.

Abdullah Khan, an eyewitness, said: "I was inside in my room when heard some gunfire. I came out from hostel and saw two armed young men running towards the residential area.

“I immediately ran back to my room and locked the door. Later, police commandos rescued us from the hostel.”

Khan said around 20 to 25 students were in the hostel at the time of attack.

Footage aired on Geo TV showed an army helicopter hovering over the hostel as militants resisted for nearly one-and-a-half hour.

It is feared the death toll may rise further. The television channel quoting hospital sources also said that out of the 32 injured, several were critical.

Ambulances were seen shifting the injured, including a journalist to hospitals.

The military in a statement said “all three terrorists” involved in the attack had been killed.

Meanwhile, Turkey condemned the attack as “heinous terrorist act”.

"We condemn this heinous terrorist act and wish Allah’s mercy on those who lost their lives and a speedy recovery to the wounded, and convey our condolences to the Government and brotherly people of Pakistan," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

The Pakistani Taliban group -- Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) -- claimed responsibility for the attack.

In 2014, more than 140 people, mostly students, were killed in a gun-and-bomb attack at an army-run school in Peshawar.

* Burcu Arik in Istanbul and Islamuddin Sajid in Islamabad contributed to this story.