5 Pakistan school children killed, 15 injured by unidentified gunmen

Five Pakistani school children were Tuesday killed and over 15 others injured when unidentified gunmen attacked a school van on the outskirts of Peshawar city in the country's northwest.

The gunmen targeted the van of a private school in Mattani area this afternoon.

Five children and the driver were killed instantly, state-run PTV reported. Fifteen others, mostly children, were injured in the brazen attack.

The condition of two children and a teacher was serious, officials of the Lady Reading Hospital said.

The gunmen struck as the van was taking the children back to their homes.

Reports said the attackers fired a rocket at the van of Khyber Model School.

Footage on television showed bloodstains on the side of the van while a heap of school bags lay inside the vehicle.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

However, Mattani has been the scene of a struggle between militants and a local anti-Taliban 'lashkar' or militia.

Taliban fighters have targeted locals residents to punish them for supporting security forces.

A suicide attack was carried out on a security check post in the same area nearly two years ago.

In March, a suicide bomber struck the funeral of the wife of a member of local militia in March and killed nearly 40 people.

Mattani is located near the tribal region of Darra Adam Khel, where commander Tariq Afridi leads Taliban fighters.