At least two dead, 50 injured after gunmen attack university in northwest Pakistan

Gunmen have attacked a university in northwestern Pakistan, leaving at least three people hurt, and are still on the rampage, security and school officials said Wednesday in the latest assault to hit the militant-infested region.

Security forces have reached the Bacha Khan university in Charsadda, about 50 kilometres from the city of Peshawar, the military confirmed, as police said they had deployed armoured vehicles.

Television images showed female students clutching hands as they fled the university, with traffic blocked on the roads of Charsadda as security forces rushed towards the campus.

“There is firing inside the university at Charsadda,” Saeed Wazir, a senior police official said.

The university has been cordoned off, said Nasir Durrani, police chief of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, of which Peshawar is the capital.

Fazal Raheem Marwat, the university vice chancellor, said at least three people had received unspecified injuries.

“There are male and female staff members and students on the campus,” he said, adding he had been on his way to work when he was informed of the attack.