by Jibran Khan

The radical Islamists target education institutions, especially female ones. The Diocese of Peshawar to AsiaNews: "Our society is heading towards darkness, education is a ray of hope. We urge the government to ensure that the ray of hope spreads across Pakistan. "

Peshawar (AsiaNews) - An attack by Islamic militants on a Pakistani school today caused two deaths and 14 wounded, including seven children, provoking the strong condemnation of the Diocese of Peshawar. Father Francis Sohail told AsiaNews: "This is a brutal act, innocent children have been targeted. These children were going to school, some of them were already inside the school. No religion can justify the killing of innocent children. These extremists are against education for women. They can not frighten us, we support women's education. Our society is heading towards darkness, education is a ray of hope. We urge the government to ensure that this ray of hope spreads across Pakistan".

The powerful bomb exploded this morning outside a school in the centre of Peshawar, in the crowded Notia Jadded neighbourhood. Two people were killed and another 14 injured. According to chief of rescue operations, Muhammad Ejaz Khan, it was "a remote-controlled bomb in a cart, which were used five kilograms of explosives." The victims, Azizur Rehman and another man, not yet identified, were passers-by.

Among the wounded there are seven children. The death toll could have been much higher if the bomb had exploded half an hour later, many students had not yet reached the school. Police have arrested two suspects, currently being interrogated. The building has been damaged, and the whole area is closed by a cordon of officers. Peshawar is the capital of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the militants often target military and civilian targets of the government, particularly schools.