A police officer who was doing security work for a Catholic school for girls in north-eastern Pakistan opened fire on a group of teachers and students, killing two young girls, one of whom was only nine years old, reports Aid to the Church in Need. Five other girls, and one adult woman were injured in the shooting, which occurred on 16 May in Sangota, in the Swat Valley, at a school run by the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi.

The police officer had been hired in February to provide security at the school and has been arrested. An inquiry is ongoing.

In the wake of the incident, Archbishop Joseph Arshad of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, said: “We feel threatened and insecure in the midst of the growing terrorism in the country”, adding, “this is regrettable. We demand that the guard be punished, to avoid similar incidents in the future.”