Afghanistan: Suicide Bomber Kills 19 In School Blast

A suicide bomber attacked an educational institute in the Afghan capital, killing at least 19 people on Friday.

As many as 27 others were wounded in the blast which occurred in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood of western Kabul.

Police spokesman Khalid Zadran said “Students were preparing for an exam when a suicide bomber struck at this educational centre. Unfortunately, 19 people have been martyred and 27 others wounded.”

“Attacking civilian targets proves the enemy’s inhuman cruelty and lack of moral standards,” he said, without specifying who was believed to be behind the attack.

The victims included high school graduates, both girls and boys, who were taking a practice university entrance exam at the Kaj education centre when the blast went off, Zadran said.

The Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood has witnessed some of the worst attacks in Afghanistan in recent years. In 2021, prior to the Taliban takeover, at least 85 people – mostly female students – were killed and about 300 others wounded when three bombs exploded near their school in Dasht-e-Barchi.