For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails
As the city of Peshawar continued the harrowing process of burying the victims of the Taliban massacre, images of some of the 132 children killed in the attack have started to emerge.
The seven gunmen killed 148 people after storming the military run Army Public School in north-western Pakistan on Tuesday. Pupils were gunned down while some of the women teachers were reportedly burned alive.
People across the country today lit candles and staged vigils as mass funerals were held in and around Peshawar.
At a vigil in the capital Islamabad, Fatimah Khan, 38, told the Reuters news agency she was devastated by the attack.
"I don't have words for my pain and anger," she said. "They slaughtered those children like animals."
Show all 12 1 /12In pictures: Aftermath of Taliban massacre in Peshawar In pictures: Aftermath of Taliban massacre in Peshawar Army Public School A Pakistani soldier shows the media a burnt classroom at an army-run school a day after an attack by Taliban militants in Peshawar
In pictures: Aftermath of Taliban massacre in Peshawar Army Public School A journalist reacts as he visits the Army Public School that was attacked by the Taliban militants in Peshawar
In pictures: Aftermath of Taliban massacre in Peshawar Army Public School Pakistani security officials inspect the premises of Army Public School after the attack by the Taliban militants in Peshawar
In pictures: Aftermath of Taliban massacre in Peshawar Army Public School Journalists inspect the premises of Army Public School
In pictures: Aftermath of Taliban massacre in Peshawar Army Public School A view of a class room of Army Public School
In pictures: Aftermath of Taliban massacre in Peshawar Army Public School A view of the blood stained auditorium of Army Public School that was attacked by the Taliban militants in Peshawar
In pictures: Aftermath of Taliban massacre in Peshawar Army Public School Pakistani video journalists film inside the auditorium of an Army Public School a day after an attack by the Taliban, in Peshawar, Pakistan
AP
In pictures: Aftermath of Taliban massacre in Peshawar Army Public School Chairs are upturned and blood stains the floor at the Army Public School auditorium the day after Taliban gunmen stormed the school in Peshawar
AP
In pictures: Aftermath of Taliban massacre in Peshawar Army Public School A pair of glesses lays on the floor of the blood stained auditorium
In pictures: Aftermath of Taliban massacre in Peshawar Army Public School Pakistan army soldiers stand outside the auditorium of an Army Public School a day after an attack on the school, in Peshawar
AP
In pictures: Aftermath of Taliban massacre in Peshawar Army Public School Pakistani journalists film and photograph inside an auditorium of the Army Public School attacked the day before by Taliban gunmen
AP
In pictures: Aftermath of Taliban massacre in Peshawar Army Public School A broken window of a class room of Army Public School
The outright assault on children has stunned a country used to almost daily attacks on security forces.
A tough military response has now been called for by commentators, Reuters has reported.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies