Another School Shooting

Another School Shooting

In the morning hours, as a military-operated school in Peshawar was getting started and students in grades 1st through 10th were in their seats ready to learn, approximately 6 members of Tehreek-e-Taliban, a Pakistani militant group, entered the school and began shooting at random. Army commandos arrived quickly and exchanged fire with the group while armored personnel carriers were deployed around the school and a Pakistani military helicopter circled overhead. As ambulances began streaming to and from the school to area hospitals, it was soon revealed that the lives of 126 were claimed, (that number has jumped to 141) mostly students, by Mushtaq Ghani, information minister for the province.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif traveled to Peshawar to show his support for all involved. The responses are heart wrenching.

 “My son was in uniform in the morning; he is in a casket now,” wailed Tahir Ali, parent of 14-year-old son Abdullah. “My son was my dream; my dream has been killed.”

One student was receiving first-aid instruction and training with a team of Pakistani army medics when the violence began. He said that nobody knew what was going on for a few seconds.

“Then I saw children falling down who were crying and screaming,” he said. “I learned later that I have got a bullet.”

Another student said that they locked their classroom door form the inside when they heard shooting, but the gunmen forced their way in and started shooting anyway.

Shahrukh Khan, age 16, said that he was in a career guidance session in the school auditorium when four gunmen burst in. The following account is devastating:

“Someone screamed at us to get down and hide below the desks,” said Khan, adding that the gunmen shouted “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest) before opening fire.

“Then, one of them [the gunmen] shouted, ‘There are so many children beneath the benches, go and get them.’”

“I saw a pair of big black boots coming towards me; this guy was probably hunting for students hiding beneath the benches.”

Khan felt a searing pain in both his legs, just below his knees.

“I folded my tie and pushed it into my mouth so that I wouldn’t scream,” he said while playing dead.

“The man with big boots kept on looking for students and pumping bullets into their bodies. I lay as still as I could and closed my eyes, waiting to get shot again.

“My body was shivering. I saw death so close and I will never forget the black boots approaching me. I felt as though it was death that was approaching me.

“The men left after some time and I stayed there for a few minutes. Then I tried to get up but fell to the group because of my wounds.

“When I crawled to the next room, it was horrible. I saw the dead body of our office assistant on fire. She was sitting on the chair with blood dripping from her body as she burned,” he said.

Khan crawled behind a door to hide, but lost consciousness.

“When I woke up, I was lying on the hospital bed,” he said.

After reading Khan’s recollection of his experience, I was literally sick to my stomach, even more sick when I read that this attack was retaliation for a major military offense in the region and the militants had been ordered to shoot older students.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • Progressing in Capabilities

    Progressing in Capabilities

    Hazardous areas within industries like oil and gas, manufacturing, agriculture and the like, have long-sought reliable video surveillance cameras and equipment that can operate safely in these harsh and unpredictable environments. Read Now

  • A Comprehensive Nationwide Solution

    A Comprehensive Nationwide Solution

    Across the United States, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, truck yards, parking lots and car dealerships all have a common concern. They are targets for catalytic converters. In nearly every region, cases of catalytic converter thefts have skyrocketed. Read Now

  • Planning for Your Perimeter

    Planning for Your Perimeter

    The perimeter is an organization’s first line of defense and a critical element of any security and surveillance program. Even if a building’s interior or exterior security is strong, without a solid perimeter surveillance approach any company or business is vulnerable. Read Now

  • The Key Issue

    The Key Issue

    It is February 2014. A woman is getting ready in her room on a cruise ship when she hears a knock on the door; it is a crewmember delivering breakfast. She is not presentable so she tells him to leave it by the door. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • Schlage RC reader controller

    Schlage RC Reader Controller

    This new innovative device combines the power of the Pure IP™ access control technology pioneered by ISONAS with Schlage’s intelligent hardware and credentials, delivering a comprehensive and cost-effective perimeter solution to customers. 3

  • Dahua 2-Wire IP Video Intercom System

    Dahua 2-Wire IP Video Intercom System

    Dahua Technology is introducing a new line of expandable 2-wire IP video intercom solutions for the North America market. The New 2-wire IP video intercom is more advanced, cost effective, and designed to help businesses increase their security. 3

  • Paxton10 CORE Cameras

    Paxton10 CORE Cameras

    The new CORE Series cameras feature edge processing for ultimate scalability, built-in edge storage, and plug-and-play installation. The addition of the CORE Series gives installers new hardware, better choice, and more value than ever before. 3