An explosion near a school in Kabul killed 55 people, mostly children

A car bomb explosion near a school in the Afghan capital, Kabul, killed at least 55 people and injured more than 150, mostly schoolgirls. This is reported by Reuters with reference to officials.

An agency source said the explosion occurred when the schoolgirls were returning home from school. Boys and girls in this school study separately in three shifts. It was a change of girls.

Kabul has been on high alert since Washington announced plans to withdraw all US troops by 9/11 last month. Afghan officials said the Taliban has stepped up attacks across the country since the announcement.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani blamed the Taliban for the attack. However, a spokesman for the Zabihullah Mujahid movement denied the involvement of his group in the explosion and condemned him.

The explosion occurred in an area inhabited by Shiite Muslims. The area has been subjected to brutal attacks by Islamic State militants over the years. They also attacked the maternity ward of the hospital almost a year ago.

Washington’s top diplomat in Afghanistan, Ross Wilson, condemned the attack on his Twitter: “This is an unforgivable attack on children with many dead. This is an attack on Afghanistan’s future that cannot resist.”

• In November 2020, the United States began a phased withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
• In April 2021, US President Joe Biden ordered the complete withdrawal of troops by 9/11. The military later said they could complete the withdrawal by the summer.
• Today, US European allies have asked Washington to delay the withdrawal to give other NATO members more time for their military to leave.