12 children killed as terrorists storm Pakistan school

At least 12 children were killed and 40 people were injured Tuesday when a group of heavily armed terrorists stormed the Army Public School located at Warsik Road in Peshawar, the capital city of Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

According to sources, a terrorist also blew himself outside the school auditorium, ARY news reported.

A school teacher said that around 1,400 to 1,500 students study in the school. Over 500 students and teachers were trapped in the building.

Around four to five terrorists first set a vehicle on fire and then stormed the school building.

Commandos and security forces have surrounded the area and are feverishly attempting to end the crisis.

"It was the fourth period. We were in our classes. They (the terrorists) were carrying guns in their hands," a school student told the media.

"Our principal told our teacher that the students have to be evacuated. Suddenly we saw army personnel arriving," the student said.

Uday, a lab assistant at the school, spoke about the horror.

"I was hiding for one hour. The army came. They (the terrorists) numbered six-seven. They had big rifles," he told reporters.

A military helicopter is also monitoring the situation.

Security sources have said that majority of the children have been rescued.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the violent incident and ordered the safe rescue of the ones trapped in the building.

The children said that the terrorists attacked the auditorium where they were appearing for their examinations.

The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack.