September 2022 Kabul school bombing

On September 30, 2022, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Kaaj education center in Dashte Barchi, a Hazara neighborhood in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing at least 52 people according to the Associated Press.[2] The majority of the victims were young female students.[3][4][5]

September 2022 Kabul school bombing
Part of the Afghanistan conflict
Blast site is located in Kabul
Blast site
Blast site
Blast site (Kabul)
Blast site is located in Afghanistan
Blast site
Blast site
Blast site (Afghanistan)
LocationKabul, Afghanistan
DateSeptember 30, 2022
7:30 am (UTC+4:30)
TargetHazaras
Attack type
Suicide bombing
WeaponsExplosive belt
Deaths52+ (Associated Press)
25+ (Taliban authorities)
Injured110[1]
VictimsStudents, mainly young women

Background

After the fall of Kabul ended the War in Afghanistan in 2021, the ruling Taliban vowed to protect citizens, including minorities. However, the country has once again witnessed occasional terrorist attacks, especially against minorities.[6]

Bombing

The explosion occurred on September 30, 2022, at around 7:30 am UTC+04:30 at the Kaaj education center, located in a predominantly Hazara neighborhood. Approximately 300 recent high school graduates arrived at the education center one hour before the attack took place.[7] Many of the victims included high school graduates who were taking a practice university exam at the time of the explosion.[3][4] According to a witness interviewed by the Associated Press, there were gunshots heard outside the building prior to the detonation.[7]

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Financial Times author Benjamin Parkin speculated that it could be ISIS-K, the local affiliate of the Islamic State, due to their history of targeting Hazara people.[6]

Reactions

UNICEF has stated that it was "appalled by the horrific attack",[8] while United States charge d'affaires at the embassy in Afghanistan, Karen Decker, called the attacks "shameful".[5]

The Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid condemned the attack on Twitter, claiming the attack was a big crime that was strongly condemned and expressed his sympathy to the families of the victims.[3]

Abdul Rahman Nafiz, the local police chief in the region reportedly criticized the Kaaj education centre for not informing the police of the practice exam that was taking place.[7]

The Interior Ministry spokesman, Abdul Nafi Takor, told the press that police have reportedly arrested a suspect potentially linked to this attack.[7]

Muhammad Mohaqiq, the chairman of People's Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, has warned the resistance by Hazaras will start and allowed anyone who want join resistance.[9]

The Guardian reported that women protesting the attack were being beaten by the Taliban.[10]

A Twitter campaign with the hashtag #StopHazaraGenocide was started on October 2, 2022. The hashtag has been tweeted over 3 million times and was supported by celebrities from Afghanistan and rest of the world.[11]

See also

References
  1. "Updates by Unitend Nations Assistance Mission For Afghanistan".
  2. Faizi, Fazel Rahman (October 3, 2022). "Death toll in last week's Kabul school blast climbs to 52". AP NEWS. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  3. Popalzai, Masoud; Mogul, Rhea; Nasser, Irene; Stambaugh, Alex; Popalzai, Ehsan (September 30, 2022). "At least 25 dead after suicide bomb blast at educational center in Kabul". CNN. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  4. "Suicide attacker kills at least 19 in Kabul school blast". Al Jazeera. September 30, 2022. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  5. "Kabul blast kills teenagers sitting practice exam". BBC News. September 30, 2022. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  6. Parkin, Benjamin (September 30, 2022). "Bomb blast at Kabul academy exposes growing danger for minorities". Financial Times. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  7. Noroozi, Ebrahim; Faiez, Rahim (September 30, 2022). "Suicide bomber strikes Kabul education center, killing 19". AP News. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  8. @UNICEFAfg (September 30, 2022). "UNICEF is appalled by the horrific attack, [...]" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. "هشدار ‏محمد محقق: کارد به استخوان رسیده است و فکر می‌کنم مقاومت هزاره‌ها نیز آغاز می‌شود". Afghanistan International (in Persian). October 1, 2022. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  10. Parent, Deepa (October 2, 2022). "Taliban beat women protesting against school bombing, say witnesses". the Guardian. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  11. "ه شتگ علیه "نسل‌کشی هزاره‌ها" از مرز سه میلیون گذشت". BBC Farsi (in Persian). October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.

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