2nd LD Writethru: 12 injured in Pakistan's Peshawar firing

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people were injured when unknown gunmen opened fire near a hostel of a university in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar on Friday morning, an official said.

Salahuddin Mehsud, Inspector General of Police, confirmed that the incident happened at about 9:20 a.m. local time when three attackers entered the agriculture directorate department, near the university, and opened fire on the guards.

All the injured were shifted to the Khyber Teaching Hospital in Peshawar where several of them are said to be in critical condition.

The attackers were wearing a full-face veil and came in a rickshaw, the official said, adding that in fact the terrorists aimed to attack the university hostel.

A journalist of a private local channel and two students were among the injured, said ARY News.

The university was officially closed due to a religion-related holiday. However, about 100 students were reportedly present in the hostel. A student, who escaped from the hostel along with 14 other students, said that around 130 students were in the hostel.

Security forces and contingent of police have reached the site while the university road has been closed for traffic. A gun fight between forces and the attackers is underway at the time of reporting. Intermittent gunfire, and blasts, can be heard from inside the premises.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. Enditem