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Kabul school grenade explosion injures dozens of children
A hand grenade explosion near the Sham-e Hedayat private school in the Dasht-e Barchi neighborhood of Kabul injured dozens of people on Monday afternoon. The blast occurred as students were being dismissed from the school.
Reports on the number of casualties vary. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) stated that at least 42 children, aged between 9 and 14, were injured. Other local media reports and witnesses suggested the number of injured could be as high as 52.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. While Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran confirmed a hand grenade was involved, authorities have not determined if the incident was a deliberate attack or an accident involving unexploded ordnance. Some witnesses suggested the grenade may have been in the possession of a student at the time of detonation.
The Dasht-e Barchi area is predominantly inhabited by the Hazara ethnic minority, a Shia Muslim community that has frequently been targeted by extremist groups such as the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K). UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett condemned the incident as a “heinous attack” and called for an independent investigation to ensure accountability. The European Union also expressed deep concern, calling for the protection of schools and children in Afghanistan.
Entities
Dasht-e Barchi · European Union · Islamic State · Kabul · Khalid Zadran · Richard Bennett · Sham-e Hedayat Private School · Sham-e Hedayat School · Sham-e Hedayat private school · Taliban · United Nations · United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The European Union condemned the explosion and called for the protection of schools and children in Afghanistan. www.khaama.com
- [● 10 SOURCES] More than 50 people were injured in the blast. assamtribune.com · www.beritaharian.sg · www.dtnext.in · www.khaama.com · www.orissapost.com · +5 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] Witnesses suggested the grenade may have been in the possession of a student when it detonated. assamtribune.com · www.beritaharian.sg · yespunjab.com
- [● 14 SOURCES] The explosion was caused by a hand grenade. assamtribune.com · www.beritaharian.sg · www.dtnext.in · www.khaama.com · www.orissapost.com · +9 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett condemned the attack and called for an independent investigation. assamtribune.com · www.dtnext.in · www.khaama.com · www.orissapost.com · wtop.com · +3 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A Taliban spokesman stated the blast might have been carried out by Islamic State or affiliated groups. www.khaama.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] UNAMA reported conflicting reports regarding whether the incident was an attack or an explosion caused by unexploded ordnance. www.arabnews.pk
- [● 3 SOURCES] At least 42 children, aged between 9 and 14, were injured in the explosion. www.zeit.de · www.arabnews.pk · thecsrjournal.in