130 killed by Islamic sect in Pakistan school attack

At least 130 persons, mostly children, were killed as men from the Islamic Taliban group stormed a military-run school, Army Public School and Degree College, in northwest Pakistan.

The attack started in the early hours of Tuesday, December 16 when the gunmen stormed the school which has students in grades 1 to 10, thought to be ages 5 to 14. The Taliban militants shot their way into the building and went from classroom to classroom, shooting at random.

Men from the Pakistani military quickly arrived at the scene and exchanged fire with the gunmen. Several reports revealed that school kids were used as shields by the jihadists during the exchange of fire.

By 3 p.m. Tuesday, it was unclear how many of the hundreds of students were still inside the school and the Pakistani military said it had pushed the attackers to four blocks of the school, and killed four according to.

The death toll has steadily risen, and officials fear it will climb higher. The number of injured was upwards of 100.

The Pakistan Taliban, Tehreeke Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have taken responsibility for the attacks telling CNN via a phone call that six suicide bombers were sent to the school with orders to kill older students only.

TTP spokesperson, Mohammed Khurrassani, told CNN that the attack was revenge for the killing of hundreds of innocent tribesmen during repeated army operations in provinces including South Waziristan, North Waziristan and the Khyber Agency -- all restive regions along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.