Why Malala was attacked

Adnan Rasheed, a senior Pakistani Taliban leader, said in a letter reportedly addressed to 16-year-old Malala Yousafzal, that she was attacked because of her criticism of them and because her writings were provocative. Then 15, Malala was shot in the head as she rode home on a school bus in October 2012. Dated Monday and released to CNN by a Pakistan intelligence source, the letter was given just days after Malala spoke before the United Nations. “The Taliban believe you were intentionally writing against them and running a smear campaign to malign their effort to establish an Islamic system in (the) Swat Valley, and your writings were provocative,” the letter said. “You have said in your speech…that the pen is mightier than the sword. So they attacked you for your sword not your books or school.” The authenticity of the letter could not be independently verified.

Read the full story on CNN.

More details are on the BBC.