Afghanistan: 35 killed, 70 injured in bomb attacks on school in Kabul
By Abdul Adil
London, (The Muslim News): At least thirty five people were killed, including children, and 70 others injured after multiple blasts hit Abdul Rahim Shaheed High School and near the Mumtaz Education Center, both of which are located within the predominately Hazara Shia Muslim neighbourhood of Dasht-e-Barchi in West Kabul.
According to Khalid Zadran, a Kabul police spokesman, 6 have been killed and 11 injured.
However, according to charity working on the ground, Zahra Trust, told The Muslim News that 35 people were killed and 70 injured.
The bombings occurred when the students were coming out of their morning classes.
Security forces reached the site and launched an investigation into the attacks, said Khalid Zadran, a Kabul police spokesman. He wrote on the Tweeter that the attack had “caused injuries to our Shiite compatriots.”
The bombings have been condemned by human rights groups and the UN.
Samira Hamidi, Amnesty International’s South Asia Campaigner condemning the attacks, said: “These reprehensible attacks on schools highlight the violence that Afghan people continue to face in their daily lives. It also shows that the Taliban, as the de-facto authorities, are failing to protect civilians, especially those from ethnic and religious minority groups, from harm.
“It is essential that the de-facto authorities carry out a thorough investigation into the attacks, which should be conducted in line with international law and standards. Those suspected of criminal responsibility for these callous bombings must face justice in fair trials before ordinary civilian courts and without recourse to death penalty.
“Amnesty International also strongly condemns the use of violence after the bombings by the Taliban who sought to prevent the media from reporting on the incident. Afghan journalists must be allowed to carry out their work without fear of reprisals.”
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan tweeted that it “unequivocally condemns heinous attack on schools in #Kabul today. Those responsible for the crime targeting schools & children must be brought to justice.”
The Emergency NGO in Kabul, which provides free health care to Afghan civilians, said on Twitter that the hospital received 10 people wounded in the explosions. “All (injured are) between 16 and 19 years old. 1 other victim was already dead-on arrival,” it said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
In May 2021, a bombing at the Sayed Al-Shuhada girls’ school in the area killed at least 85 people, mostly teenage girls.
[Map of Afghanistan by Tooby/Public Domain]
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