Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

Malala ‘heartbroken’ by Pakistan school slayings

-

Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012, said she was "heartbroken" by "the senseless and cold blooded" killing of scores of children by Taliban militants Tuesday in Pakistan.

At least 130 people, most of them children, were killed when gunmen stormed an army-run school in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar in an act that drew swift global condemnation.

"I am heartbroken by this senseless and cold blooded act of terror in Peshawar that is unfolding before us. Innocent children in their school have no place in horror such as this," Malala said in a statement.

"I condemn these atrocious and cowardly acts and stand united with the government and armed forces of Pakistan whose efforts so far to address this horrific event are commendable."

Pakistani rights activist Malala Yousafzai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on October 10  2014
Pakistani rights activist Malala Yousafzai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on October 10, 2014
Oli Scarf, AFP

Seventeen-year-old Malala, who now lives in Britain, became a global icon after she was shot and nearly killed by the Taliban in her native Pakistan in October 2012 for insisting that girls had a right to an education.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack as retaliation for a major military offensive in the region, saying militants had been ordered to shoot older students.

Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012, said she was “heartbroken” by “the senseless and cold blooded” killing of scores of children by Taliban militants Tuesday in Pakistan.

At least 130 people, most of them children, were killed when gunmen stormed an army-run school in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar in an act that drew swift global condemnation.

“I am heartbroken by this senseless and cold blooded act of terror in Peshawar that is unfolding before us. Innocent children in their school have no place in horror such as this,” Malala said in a statement.

“I condemn these atrocious and cowardly acts and stand united with the government and armed forces of Pakistan whose efforts so far to address this horrific event are commendable.”

Pakistani rights activist Malala Yousafzai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on October 10  2014

Pakistani rights activist Malala Yousafzai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on October 10, 2014
Oli Scarf, AFP

Seventeen-year-old Malala, who now lives in Britain, became a global icon after she was shot and nearly killed by the Taliban in her native Pakistan in October 2012 for insisting that girls had a right to an education.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack as retaliation for a major military offensive in the region, saying militants had been ordered to shoot older students.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

World

Let’s just hope sanity finally gets a word in edgewise.

World

Tycoon Morris Chang received one of Taiwan's highest medals of honour to recognise his achievements as the founder of semiconductor giant TSMC - Copyright...

World

An Iranian military truck carries a Sayad 4-B missile past a portrait of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a military parade on April...

World

Iranians lift up a flag and the mock up of a missile during a celebration following Iran's missiles and drones attack on Israel, on...