Explosion Targets School in West Kabul with Hand Grenade, Injuring Dozens of Students

Explosion Targets School in West Kabul with Hand Grenade, Injuring Dozens of Students

Dozens of individuals, most of whom are children, were injured as a result of a hand grenade explosion targeting a private school in the Dasht-e-Barchi area, west of Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul. Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the total number of casualties.

The explosion occurred around 5 p.m. on Monday within the compound of a private school in the town of Mahdia, located in the 18th security district of Kabul, as students were exiting their classrooms.

Local sources reported that a hand grenade was thrown from an alley across the street into the schoolyard, resulting in injuries to several male and female students.

The Taliban’s security spokesperson in Kabul, Khalid Zadran, confirmed the explosion, stating that it was caused by a hand grenade and led to injuries among several children, but he did not announce a specific casualty count.

According to a list of the injured, 17 children were transported to Imam Zaman Hospital in western Kabul, including 12 girls and five boys, aged between 9 and 14 years.

In contrast, TOLOnews reported, citing a security source, that the number of people injured reached 52, while no official final tally has yet been issued to clarify the total number of victims.

The Dasht-e-Barchi area in western Kabul, where the explosion occurred, is a densely populated Shia region that has previously been the site of deadly attacks on schools, educational centers, and religious establishments in recent years.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, and further details regarding the circumstances and final casualty count are awaited.