Delhi: Politicians in India, cutting across party lines, condemned the horrific terror attack in Peshawar and termed it a 'senseless act of unspeakable brutality'.
In the bloodiest terror attack in Pakistan in years, more than 150 people, mostly children, were on Tuesday killed by heavily-armed Taliban suicide bombers who stormed an army-run school and took several hostages, a throwback to the 2004 Beslan school siege by Chechen rebels.
A group of 8 Arabic-speaking attackers, wearing para- military Frontier Corps uniforms, entered the Army Public School on Warsak Road around 10.30 am (local time) and started the massacre of innocents, spraying bullets indiscriminately, going from classroom-to-classroom.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the attack, one of the worst in recent years.
The Taliban spokesman claimed that its 6 suicide bombers attacked army school, saying it was a revenge for the army's operation against militants in the North Waziristan tribal area close to Peshawar, as per PTI.
Leaders from BJP, Congress, National Conference amongst others took to Twitter to denounce the incident.
Following are the posts on the micro-blogging site by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of India Pranab Mukherjee, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and a host of other leaders.
2 innocent people lost their lives in the hostage crisis. My deepest condolences to their families.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2014
Strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack at a school in Peshawar.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2014
It is a senseless act of unspeakable brutality that has claimed lives of the most innocent of human beings - young children in their school.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2014
My heart goes out to everyone who lost their loved ones today. We share their pain & offer our deepest condolences.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2014
#PresidentMukherjee has expressed deep anguish and strongly condemned the terrorist attack in the Army Public School, Peshawar
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) December 16, 2014
The world community must unite and redouble efforts to root out terror from every country and society #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) December 16, 2014
CP Smt. Sonia Gandhi has strongly condemned the dastardly killing of innocent School Children by terrorists in #Peshawar,Pakistan
— INC India (@INCIndia) December 16, 2014
Deeply shocked at the barbaric killing of school children by terrorists in #Peshawar, Pakistan : Rahul Gandhi
— INC India (@INCIndia) December 16, 2014
My thoughts and prayers are with the families of victims of this enormous tragedy: Rahul Gandhi #PakSchoolSiege
— INC India (@INCIndia) December 16, 2014
We stand united with the people of Pakistan in their resolve to fight the menace of terrorism: Rahul Gandhi #PeshawarAttack
— INC India (@INCIndia) December 16, 2014
We condemn the use of violence under any circumstances: Rahul Gandhi #PakSchoolSiege
— INC India (@INCIndia) December 16, 2014
Peshawar Army Public School terror attack is highly condemnable. Let us put a tough fight against terror-violence and terrorism globally.
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) December 16, 2014
I strongly condemn the terrorist attack on a school at Peshwar(Pakistan). This dastardly & inhuman attack exposes the real face of terrorism
— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) December 16, 2014
My heart goes out to the families of those children who got killed by the terrorists in Peshwar. I express my condolences to those families
— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) December 16, 2014
Our prayers are with parents & families of the children killed in this dastardly act.
— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) December 16, 2014
Cowardly attack on the most innocent! Strongly condemn the brutal terrorist attacks in Peshawar. My heart goes out to the bereaved families.
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) December 16, 2014
No Indian I know is indifferent to the horror in Peshawar. Nothing can be worse than sending your children2school ¬ having them come back
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 16, 2014
What terrible, heart breaking images of the attack in #Peshawar. Inhuman & barbaric don't even begin to describe the perpetrators.
— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) December 16, 2014
Schools are supposed to be places of sanctuary & today these Godless animals have converted one in to a killing field #PeshawarAttack
— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) December 16, 2014
Targeting innocent lives in school is a shame to humanity. I pray for the children & their families embroiled in #Peshawar’s heinous attack.
— Anandiben Patel (@anandibenpatel) December 16, 2014
Can there be anything more inhuman & more cowardly than killing children? #PeshawarAttack
— Shahnawaz Hussain (@ShahnawazBJP) December 16, 2014
My deep anguish on cruel cowardice killing of innocent children in Peshawar, Pakistan must crack down on Taliban and Terrorism.
— Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (@naqvimukhtar) December 16, 2014
पेशावर में मासूम बच्चों की हत्या ,इन्सानियत के ख़िलाफ़ एक और शैतानी साजिश ।पाकिस्तान को अपनी ज़मीन से आतंकवादियों का सफ़ाया करना होगा।
— Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (@naqvimukhtar) December 16, 2014
Horrifying attack on a school in Peshawar Pakistan. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families
— Arvinder S. Lovely (@ArvinderLovely) December 16, 2014
Shocked to see the horrifying #PeshawarAttack. Condolences to the family of the children killed and our prayers are with hostages.
— B.S. Yeddyurappa (@BSYBJP) December 16, 2014
