Under the cover of dense fog, gunmen stormed a university in Pakistan Wednesday, killing 20 people and injuring dozens, according to multiple reports.
The brazen attack happened at Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, roughly 21 miles outside the city of Peshawar. It took place just days after authorities closed schools in the area due to reports of a possible terror attack.
Here's what we know:
Death toll expected to rise
An unidentified security official told Reuters the death toll could rise to as high as 40 as authorities continued to clear classrooms at the university.
Bilal Ahmad Faizi, a spokesman for the rescue workers, told the wire service they had recovered 19 bodies.
Attackers among those killed
Four attackers were among those killed in the gunbattle that followed the attack, said Pakistan Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Gen. Asim Bajwa.
Taliban initially claimed responsibility
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a call to The Associated Press Wednesday, then later disowned the group behind the attack.
Taliban leaer Khalifa Umar Mansoor told the news agency his four-man team descended on Bacha Khan University in retaliation for the deaths of scores of militants at the hands of Pakistani security forces.
However, since then the Taliban group known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan backed away from the claim, according to The Express Tribune, an English-language Pakistani newspaper.
Slain included students, security guards, at least one professor
According to a report from the Daily Pakistan, one of the victims was identified as a chemistry professor. A second chemistry profesor was injured.
Leaders condemn attack
A number of leaders condemned the attack, including Pakistani President Mamn0on Hussain and Prime Minister Nawax Sharif.
In a news release, government officials said Sharif was monitoring the situation. Sharif expressed "sorry and grief on the loss of precious lives in the terror attack. He said those who attacked innocent students and citizens have no religion and the government is committed to eliminate them.
Opposition leader Imran Khan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the attack
