NEW DELHI, Sept 30: At least 100 children are feared to have been killed in a suicide bombing attack at an education centre in Kabul, according to reports.
As per the local journalists, the deceased were mostly Hazaras and Shias. The Hazaras are Afghanistan’s third largest ethnic group.
The blast took place at the Kaaj education centre in the Dasht-e-Barchi area in the west of the city, media reports said.
The instructors at Kaaaj higher education centre picked up human body parts and picked up hands and legs.
“We have so far counted 100 dead bodies of our students. The number of students killed is much higher. Classroom was packed. This was a mock university entrance exam, so students could prepare for the real one.” A member of the Kaaj higher education center said.
A video before the blast showing the class of students that was targeted was also shared on micro-blogging site Twitter.
Dashte Barche in West Kabul have been constantly the target of deadly ISKP attacks. Hazaras and Shias murdered inside their classrooms, a local journalist Bilal Sarwary tweeted. “Brutal attack against one of Afghanistan’s most oppressed communities. Dashte Barche in West Kabul have been constantly the target of deadly ISKP attacks. Hazaras and Shias murdered inside their classrooms,” he said.
“Students were preparing for an exam when a suicide bomber struck at this educational centre,” police spokesman Khalid Zadran had said. Karen Decker, charge d’affaires at the US mission to Afghanistan, said in a tweet, “The U.S. strongly condemns today’s attack on the Kaaj Higher Educational Centre. Targeting a room full of students taking exams is shameful; all students should be able to pursue an education in peace & without fear.”
“Security teams have reached the site, the nature of the attack and the details of the casualties will be released later. “Attacking civilian targets proves the enemy’s inhuman cruelty and lack of moral standards.” Videos posted online and photos published by local media showed bloodied victims being carried away from the scene.
(Manas Dasgupta)