Hand grenade attack near Kabul school injures around 50 children

On Monday afternoon, a hand grenade attack near a school in the Afghan capital of Kabul injured a significant number of children, according to authorities. Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran confirmed that "a number of children" were wounded, and an investigation is currently underway. However, no additional details were provided.

United Nations special rapporteur for Afghanistan Richard Bennett expressed his outrage over the "heinous attack" that targeted numerous children near a school the previous day. Afghan media reported that approximately 50 children were hurt in the blast, which took place in a region of Kabul primarily inhabited by the Hazara ethnic minority.

Hazaras, who constitute around 9% of Afghanistan's population, have faced numerous attacks and persecution in the country. Most are Shiite Muslims, and they have endured repeated targeting by Sunni Muslim radicals such as the Islamic State group, as well as enduring discrimination in the Sunni majority nation. In May 2021, three bombings at a school in Kabul killed dozens of people, all belonging to the Hazara community and primarily young girls leaving class.

The school, like the one attacked on Monday, was located in Kabul's Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood, the primary Hazara district in the Afghan capital. United Nations special rapporteur Richard Bennett emphasized on X that an independent investigation to hold those responsible accountable was crucial, stating, "Once again this mainly Hazara part of Kabul has been targeted. Deplorable!"