Kabul School Blast: Number Of Children Injured Rises To 42

At least 42 children were injured in the Kabul school blast, with the United Nations and Amnesty International on Wednesday calling for a full and independent investigation into what happened at the education centre.

The blast took place on Monday afternoon at the Sham-e-Hedayat private school in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of western Kabul. UN officials said the injured children are aged between 9 and 14. A Kabul hospital that treated at least 35 students said all its patients were aged 10 to 14 and suffered shrapnel injuries. At least three needed surgery.

A new detail from UN officials is that the exact circumstances of the explosion remain unclear. While Afghan police earlier said a hand grenade was involved, UNAMA said reports are conflicting, with some suggesting an attack and others pointing to unexploded ordnance. No group has claimed responsibility.

Local reports have put the wider number of injured at 52 people, although the UN has confirmed 42 injured children. Reports also said the explosion happened as students were leaving their classrooms.

UNAMA has called for an investigation to establish how the blast happened. Amnesty International has also demanded a comprehensive, independent and impartial probe, urging authorities to protect civilians, including ethnic and religious minorities.

The incident has renewed concern over safety in Dasht-e-Barchi, a mainly Hazara area that has faced repeated attacks. UN investigator Richard Bennett described the incident as a “heinous attack” and said those responsible must be brought to justice.

For now, authorities have not publicly established whether the explosion was a deliberate attack or an accident involving explosive material. The investigation is continuing.