Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Afghan bombing: Schoolchildren among those dead in Kabul suicide attack

The explosion struck outside an education centre in a heavily Shiite neighbourhood 

Tameem Akhgar
Saturday 24 October 2020 17:21 BST
Comments
The explosion struck outside an education centre in a heavily Shiite neighbourhood
The explosion struck outside an education centre in a heavily Shiite neighbourhood (AFP via Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

A suicide attack in Afghanistan's capital has killed at least 10 people and wounded 20 others, including schoolchildren, the interior ministry said.

The explosion struck outside an education centre in a heavily Shiite neighbourhood of western Kabul.

Interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said the attacker was trying to enter the centre when he was stopped by security guards.

No group claimed immediate responsibility for the bombing.

The Taliban rejected any connection with the attack.

An Isis affiliate claimed responsibility for a similar suicide attack at an education centre in August 2018, in which 34 students were killed.

Within Afghanistan, Isis has launched large-scale attacks on minority Shiites, whom it views as apostates.

The US signed a peace deal with the Taliban in February, opening up a path towards withdrawing American troops from the conflict.

Earlier on Saturday, a roadside bomb killed nine people in eastern Afghanistan after it struck a minivan full of civilians, a local official said.

Ghazni province police spokesman Ahmad Khan Sirat said a second roadside bomb killed two policemen, after it struck their vehicle that was making its way to the victims of the first explosion.

He added that the bombings had wounded several others, and that the attacks were under investigation.

No-one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The provincial police spokesman claimed the Taliban had placed the bomb.

AP

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in