At least 126 children are dead after Taliban militants attacked a military school in the Pakistani city of Peshawar.
Taliban militants have stormed a military school in Pakistan killing at least 126.
The attack began in the morning with gunmen entering the school and firing at random, according to local police.
The Pakistani military launched a rescue operation, with commandos exchanging fire with the militants.
The school is situated on the edge of a military cantonment in the city of Peshawar, but the majority of the students are civilian.
Pakistani television showed soldiers surrounding the area and pushing people back.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack with a spokesman saying: "We targeted the school because the army targets our families. We want them to feel our pain."
Taliban spokesman Mohammed Khurasani said six suicide bombers had carried out the attack in revenge for the killing of Taliban members by Pakistani forces.
The chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pervez Khattak said that 84 students had died and roughly the same number had been wounded during the attack.
According to Khattak, the fatalities were all children, but hospital officials had previously indicated that at least one of those who died was a teacher and another a security official.
Peshawar in the north west of Pakistan has been the target of frequent militant attacks in the past.
Politician and former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan said: "Shocked at attack on school in Peshawar. Strongly condemn this inhuman act of utter barbarism."
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