KABUL: An explosion near a school in a Shia district of west Kabul has killed at least 25 people and wounded dozens more. Most of those killed and injured in the attack are young children, Afghanistan’s interior ministry said.
Ambulances were rushing to evacuate the wounded from the scene of the blast on Saturday near Syed Al-Shahda school, in the Shia majority neighbourhood of Dasht-e-Barchi, Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said.
Arian said at least 52 people were injured in the blast. He did not specify the cause or the target of the explosion. Ghulam Dastagir Nazari, the spokesman for the health ministry, said 46 people had been taken to hospitals so far.
Angry crowds attacked the ambulances and even beat health workers, said Nazari. He implored residents to cooperate and allow ambulances free access to the site.
Kabul is on high alert since Washington announced plans last month to pull out all US troops by September 11, with Afghan officials saying the Taliban has stepped up its attacks across the country.
No group has claimed responsibility for Saturday’s blast. The Taliban condemned the attack, apparently aimed at civilians, and denied any responsibility.
It took place in a heavily Shia Muslim neighbourhood that has frequently been attacked by ISIL (ISIS) fighters over the years. ISIS had previously attacked education centres in Afghanistan, most prominently an attack on a tuition centre and the attack on the Kabul University.
