Taliban victim teenager treated at QE hospital

A Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen for speaking out about suffering under the regime has been brought to Birmingham for treatment.

Malala Yousafzai, 14, will receive specialist medical care at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after she was shot on a bus in front of her friends in a "barbaric attack'' last Tuesday, Foreign Secretary William Hague said.

The teenager's life was saved by neurosurgeons in a Pakistani military hospital and she has since been in intensive care.

But doctors decided she needed "prolonged care'' to help her recover from the physical and psychological effects of the attack.

Mr Hague said: "Last week's barbaric attack on Malala Yousafzai and her schoolfriends shocked Pakistan and the world. Malala's bravery in standing up for the right of all young girls in Pakistan to an education is an example to us all.

Malala will now receive specialist medical care in an NHS hospital. Our thoughts remain with Malala and her family at this difficult time.''

Malala was shot with two classmates as they made their way home from school in Swat, in the north west of Pakistan. She was attacked by the Taliban for promoting the education if girls and criticising the militant group.

The teenager is being transferred to the UK for treatment by an air ambulance arranged by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Pakistani army said.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "We offered last Thursday our help to the government of Pakistan in caring for her because she does need particular specialist care.

The authorities in Pakistan have taken us up on the offer, so she is on her way and she will be at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. The Pakistani government is paying all transport, migration, medical, accommodation and subsistence costs for Malala and her party.''