A 14 year old girl was shot by the Taliban
A 14 year old girl was shot by the TalibanReuters

A spokesman for the Taliban in Pakistan's Swat Valley confirmed the terror organization was behind the shooting of a 14-year-old activist Tuesday. 

Malala Yousafzai was targeted by the Taliban because she is an outspoken advocate and supporter of education for girls. She was shot in the head on her way home from school in the main city of Mingora. 

According to one source inside the Pakistani Taliban, the terrorist organization felt threatened by the young girl because of her pro-west sentiments and promotion of Western cultures, her outspokenness against the Taliban and her love for U.S. President Barack Obama. 

Although the brutal attempted murder of such a young girl was met with outrage among many Pakistanis, a spokesman for the Taliban said they would target the girl again if she survived the shot to the head.