The main suspect in the shooting of Malala Yousufzai, the teenage activist who spoke out against the Taliban, has been identified, Pakistani police say.
And a group of men who allegedly facilitated the attack against the schoolgirl have been arrested, police said Wednesday.
Atta Ullah, a 23-year-old from the Swat district where Malala was attacked, was identified as the main suspect. Ullah was studying for a masters in chemistry, police say. The Taliban-heavy Swat Valley is in the northwestern part of Pakistan.
The suspect's fiancée, mother and brother have also been arrested.
It's unclear whether Ullah was at the scene and tried to shoot Malala or if he was considered the leader behind the plan to kill her.
Malala, who has become a global symbol of courage after being shot in the head by the Taliban for demanding education for girls, is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Birmingham, England.
She stood with the aid of nurses Friday for the first time since the October 9 shooting and was "communicating very freely," according to the director of the hospital. Malala can't speak because she has a tracheotomy tube inserted to protect her airway, which was swollen after her gunshot injury, but she is writing coherent sentences, said Dave Rosser, director of University Hospitals Birmingham.
Friday's progress report - more detailed than previous updates - suggests that the 15-year-old could make a good recovery.
The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the shooting and vowed to kill Malala if she recovers from her injuries.
– CNN's Nasir Habib and journalist Saima Mohsin contributed to this report.
And a group of men who allegedly facilitated the attack against the schoolgirl have been arrested, police said Wednesday.
Atta Ullah, a 23-year-old from the Swat district where Malala was attacked, was identified as the main suspect. Ullah was studying for a masters in chemistry, police say. The Taliban-heavy Swat Valley is in the northwestern part of Pakistan.
The suspect's fiancée, mother and brother have also been arrested.
It's unclear whether Ullah was at the scene and tried to shoot Malala or if he was considered the leader behind the plan to kill her.
Malala, who has become a global symbol of courage after being shot in the head by the Taliban for demanding education for girls, is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Birmingham, England.
She stood with the aid of nurses Friday for the first time since the October 9 shooting and was "communicating very freely," according to the director of the hospital. Malala can't speak because she has a tracheotomy tube inserted to protect her airway, which was swollen after her gunshot injury, but she is writing coherent sentences, said Dave Rosser, director of University Hospitals Birmingham.
Friday's progress report - more detailed than previous updates - suggests that the 15-year-old could make a good recovery.
The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the shooting and vowed to kill Malala if she recovers from her injuries.
– CNN's Nasir Habib and journalist Saima Mohsin contributed to this report.
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