3rd LD Writethru: 9 killed, 35 injured following terrorist attack on student hostel in NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people were killed and 35 others injured as four terrorists launched an attack on a student hostel in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar on Friday morning, local Urdu media ARY said.

According to media reports, families of staff members of the Directorate of Agriculture and students of Agriculture University Peshawar were residing in the hostel when it came under attack.

Of those nine dead, six bodies were brought to Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar, while three were taken to Khyber Teaching Hospital, hospital sources confirmed.

According to military's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), all the four attackers have been killed in the security forces operation. The clearance operation was launched afterwards.

During the operation, two soldiers also sustained injuries and have been shifted to the Combined Military Hospital in the city for treatment, ISPR said.

Aerial surveillance of the operation was carried out by the army aviation division whereas armored vehicles of security forces were also on site.

The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the attack, said Dawn News.

Salahuddin Mehsud, Inspector General of Police, while confirming the casualties said that three to four attackers entered the Agriculture Directorate building and opened fire on the guards, adding that the attackers were wearing a full-face veil and came in a rickshaw.

Army and law enforcement agencies along with police have reached the site while the university road has been closed for traffic.

All the injured have been shifted to the Khyber Teaching Hospital in Peshawar where a state of emergency was declared.

The spokesperson at the hospital confirmed seven students, a journalist, two paramilitary troops of Frontier Corps and one police officer among the wounded people.

The attack came a week after a senior police officer was killed in a suicide blast in the Hayatabad area of Peshawar.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Peshawar and directed the authorities concerned to provide best medical treatment to the injured people. Enditem