Nine dead as gunmen storm hostel of Peshawar’s Agricultural Training Institute

Nine people were killed and 37 injured as at least three terrorists dressed in burkas stormed the hostel of Peshawar's Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) on Friday morning. The attack was claimed by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. Both police and military officials said the attackers had been coordinating with handlers based in Afghanistan. Security forces hunted down and neutralised the terrorists in an operation launched soon after the attack was reported. They were assisted by military helicopters conducting aerial surveillance of the premises. After the threat was neutralised, security forces began clearing the institute's premises. Shortly after, journalists were allowed to enter the institute. Hayatabad Medical Complex Director Shahzad Akbar said six dead and 18 injured had been brought to the hospital. Khyber Teaching Hospital sources said they had received three bodies and 17 wounded. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said two soldiers had been injured in the rescue operation. They had been shifted to the Combined Military Hospital for treatment. The province's police chief said six students, the institute's gatekeeper, and two civilians are among the dead. One police officer, two soldiers and a journalist are among the injured, he said. Peshawar's University Road, where the incident took place, is now open for traffic after being closed in the hours following the attack. The Agricultural Training Institute has been closed for an unspecified period and the hostels have been cleared of students.