Summary

  • Gunmen have attacked Bacha Khan University near Peshawar

  • At least 19 people have been killed, police say

  • Four gunmen have been killed and the firing has stopped

  • Taliban spokesman denies responsibility, contradicting earlier claim

  • About 3,000 students are enrolled at the university

  • All times GMT

Live Reporting

Tom Spender, Joel Gunter and Tessa Wong

  1. US condemns Charsadda attack

    The US embassy in Islamabad has tweeted the following:

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  2. Casualties evacuated

    These photos from the Reuters news agency show people injured in the attack being evacuated and treated by medical staff.

    People carry a casualty in a militant attack at Bacha Khan University, on a stretcher in CharsaddaReuters
    Medical officers attend to a man injured in a militant attack at Bacha Khan University, at a hospital in CharsaddaReuters
    A teacher walks with a pair of crutches following her rescue after a group of militants stormed the Bacha Khan University in CharsaddaReuters

  3. Express Tribune: More than 30 injured

    Pakistani newspaper The Express Tribune is quoting officials as saying more than 30 people have been injured.

  4. Conflicting casualty reports

    The BBC's Pakistan Correspondent tweets...

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  5. AFP: Police say operation over, 21 dead

    AFP news agency is quoting police as saying that the death toll has risen to 21, with most of the student victims shot dead inside a male hostel on campus. They add that security forces have ended the operation against the gunmen and are clearing the area.

  6. Pakistani military on the scene

    The Pakistani military launched an operation against the gunmen, with a helicopter in support.

    Army soldiers walk outside the Bacha Khan university in CharsaddaReuters
    Soldiers gather outside Bacha Khan University where an attack by militants took place, in Charsadda, PakistanReuters
    Helicopter is seen at Bacha Khan University where an attack by militants took place, in CharsaddaReuters

  7. Region beset by violence

    Pakistani cricketer turned politician Imran Khan on the Andrew Marr show Tx 18/9/2011

    The main challenge in the region where Charsadda is located is the rise in violence, especially that committed by the Taliban, says the BBC's Shazeb Jillani. 

    The region is governed by the opposition party PTI, headed by the former cricketer Imran Khan. Though Mr Khan has long advocated for dialogue, he has been calling for tougher action in recent months, particularly after the 2014 Peshawar school attack.

  8. 'We heard firing'

    Student Aizaz Khan was in the university when the attack began. He told Reuters news agency:

    "We heard firing from the back of the campus. We thought maybe some people were fighting. Then the firing increased. Then we said: 'Get into the rooms. Don't go out'. Then the security forces came. They showed great bravery. The Pakistani army also showed great bravery."

  9. Army: 'No firing being heard'

    Military spokesman tweets...

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  10. Rescue official: 'Eight dead'

    Rescue workers are seen outside Bacha Khan University where an attack by militants took place, in CharsaddaReuters

    Rescue officials say they have recovered eight bodies. These are reported to include four security guards, a policeman, a chemistry professor and two female students.

    Four gunmen are also said to have been killed.

    Some reports suggest the number of casualties could be higher.

  11. AFP: One teacher 'was armed'

    AFP news agency has quoted geology student Zahoor Ahmed as saying that he tried to leave his hostel after hearing shots fired. "(We) were stopped by our chemistry lecturer who advised us to go inside. He was holding a pistol in his hand," he said. 

    Pakistan has been allowing teachers to carry weapons following the 2014 Peshawar school attack.

  12. Students and staff leave university by main gate

    Reuters / ARY NewsPeople are evacuated from the Bacha Khan University during an attack by militants, in Charsadda, northwestern Pakistan in this still frame taken from a video released by ARY News 20 January 2016.

  13. Attackers 'took advantage of low visibility'

    The BBC's Shahzeb Jillani says that the university had security guards posted at the main gate, but the attackers knew how to enter from the back, and took advantage of the low visibility caused by thick fog blanketing the area in the morning. Once spotted they began firing.

  14. Eyewitness saw students escape

    Dr Shakoor, an assistant professor with the university, turned back from the main gate of the campus as he arrived this morning after being told that the premises were under attack. 

    He told the BBC's Ilyas Khan that many students were streaming out of that gate, apparently because attackers had entered the campus from the backyard where there is a university guesthouse.

  15. University of 'symbolic value' to Islamists

    The Pashtun nationalist movement from which Bacha Khan university draws its name were opposed to the Afghan Islamist resistance against the Russians during the 1980s and also oppose the Taliban, notes the BBC's Ilyas Khan. 

    As such, an attack on the university holds symbolic value to Islamists.

  16. Students 'fired on during poetry reading'

    Charsadda map

    The Bacha Khan University is a public university approximately 15km from the main city of Charsadda. Geo News reports that it is named after a Pashtun nationalist leader from the Partition era.

    The gunmen opened fire on students and faculty members as they gathered at the school for a poetry recital to commemorate Mr Khan, Dawn reported.

  17. Express Tribune: 'Taliban claims responsibility'

    Pakistani newspaper The Express Tribune is reporting that the Pakistani Taliban, also known as TTP, has claimed responsibility for the attack on the university.

  18. Evacuations continue

    Two distraught-looking men were seen escaping from the campus earlier.

    Two men console each other as people are evacuated at the Bacha Khan University during an attack by militants, in Charsadda, northwestern Pakistan in this still frame taken from a video released by ARY News 20 January 2016Reuters / ARY News

  19. Army: Four attackers killed

    The military says four gunmen have been killed.

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  20. Security forces surround university

    Pakistani military and police have taken up positions around the perimeter of the campus.

    This photograph taken from a mobile phone shows Pakistani security personnel taking position outside the Bacha Khan university following an attack by gunmen in Charsadda, about 50 kilometres from Peshawar, on 20 January 2016AFP/Getty Images