Islamic Militants Holding Children Hostage in Pakistan

January 28th, 2008 By: Claudia, Assistant Editor | Tags:

Gunmen have stormed an elementary school near Peshawar, in Pakistan, taking children and teachers hostage. There are conflicting accounts as to how many children are being held, with police reporting around 25, but others raising that number to 250. Apparently, the militants originally planned to kidnap a local health official, but were thwarted and in the process of escaping, went into the school and took the children.

Here’s hoping there isn’t a repeat of the Beslan tragedy, and all the children, and their teachers are safely released.

Update: The gunmen have released the children (final number around 200) and surrendered to tribal authorities. A happy ending, thank goodness.

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  1. Michael van der Galien
    January 28th, 2008 at 17:04
    Reply | Quote | #1

    Indeed. On the other hand, if this runs out of hand, it are the militants who are to blame, not the government. Lets not forget that.

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