Updated | At least 84 children killed by Taliban militants in Pakistan school attack

Uniformed militants attacked a school, killing at least 84 people and taking hostages on Tuesday, according to an official.

Commandos were sent to the scene and exchanged fire with gunmen who entered the Army Public School in Peshawar. Five "heavy" explosions were heard from the school at around 5 a.m. ET. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the assault.

It was not immediately clear whether some or all of the children were killed by the gunmen or in the ensuing battle with Pakistani security forces trying to gain control of the building.

There were 84 dead, and around the same number injured, according to Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak. He said the 84 killed were all "children" but hospital officials earlier said at least one of the fatalities was a teacher and that one security official was also among the dead. Earlier, officials confirmed that 26 children had been killed.

About 500 students and teachers were believed to be inside the site when gunfire erupted.