At least six people were killed and 24 injured in two explosions that hit a school for boys on Tuesday in a district of Kabul largely populated by members of the Shiite Hazara minority and already targeted several times in the past.
homemade bombs
Two homemade bombs exploded outside the Abdul Rahim Shahid school in the capital's western district of Dasht-e-Barchi, killing six according to a "preliminary" toll, the spokesman said of the Kabul police, Khalid Zadran.
Two hospitals in Kabul reported receiving 24 injured.
Horrifying images circulating on social media showed several bodies lying on the ground at the entrance to the compound, amid pools of blood, charred books and scattered school bags.
“We had just left the school and went out the back door when the explosion took place,” said Ali Jan, a student injured by the first explosion, in a hospital in Dasht-e-Barchi.
"terrifying" scenes
The second explosion occurred as first responders arrived to help the victims.
"When I heard the explosion, I called a friend of mine who studies at this school," said Murtaza, a trader injured in the second explosion.
“His phone was off.
So I went to the scene (…) and that's when I was hit.
»
Dasht-e-Barchi is home to many members of the Hazara minority, marginalized for centuries and regularly persecuted in this predominantly Sunni country.
The neighborhood has often been targeted in the past by the Islamic State (IS) group.
Saeed Rahmatullah Haidari, a student, described "terrifying" scenes.
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