Taliban claim responsibility

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the assault, with TTP spokesman Muhammad Khurasani saying in an email to AFP: “Our suicidal unit carried out the attack.”

The army intensified its offensive after the school attack and since then there has been something of a lull in violence. The last major attack in the city came in February when three heavily armed Taliban militants stormed a Shiite mosque, killing 21 people.

A TTP faction last month claimed responsibility for a double suicide bombing that killed the home minister of Punjab province along with 15 other people.

PM, Army Chief in Peshawar

Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif has reached Peshawar to witness the situation and supervise clearing up operation this afternoon.

He visited the Corps headquarters where he was briefed about the operation against the terrorists. The Army Chief will also visit the injured personnel of the Armed forces who took part in the operation.

PM Nawaz Sharif also reached Peshawar couple of hours after the army chief made it to the provincial capital of KP. He arrived at the Combined Military Hospital to inquire after the health of the injured.

Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif meets soldiers in Peshawar who took part in the military’s response to an attack on the PAF Badaber base and killed all the attackers

Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif and Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman meet soldiers in Peshawar who took part in the military’s response to an attack on the PAF Badaber base and killed all the attackers