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| Acid attack on Afghan schoolgirls | Acid attack on Afghan schoolgirls |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Attackers in Afghanistan have sprayed acid in the faces of at least 15 girls near a school in Kandahar, police say. | Attackers in Afghanistan have sprayed acid in the faces of at least 15 girls near a school in Kandahar, police say. |
| They say that the attack happened shortly before at least six people were killed in a bomb blast near a government building in the city. | They say that the attack happened shortly before at least six people were killed in a bomb blast near a government building in the city. |
| Doctor say that the six girls were wearing Islamic burkas or veils which provided them with some protection. | Doctor say that the six girls were wearing Islamic burkas or veils which provided them with some protection. |
| Correspondents say the attack is likely to have been carried out by those opposed to the education of women. | Correspondents say the attack is likely to have been carried out by those opposed to the education of women. |
| The former Taleban government had banned girls from attending school. | The former Taleban government had banned girls from attending school. |
| 'Not safe' | 'Not safe' |
| The AFP news agency quoted education ministry spokesman Hamed Elmi as saying that the attack took place outside the Mirwais Nika Girls High School. | The AFP news agency quoted education ministry spokesman Hamed Elmi as saying that the attack took place outside the Mirwais Nika Girls High School. |
| "At about 8am local time, unknown people sprayed acid at girls with a toy gun," he said. | "At about 8am local time, unknown people sprayed acid at girls with a toy gun," he said. |
| The girls said that the attack happened as they were on their way to school. | The girls said that the attack happened as they were on their way to school. |
| "Two men on motorbikes stopped next to us. One of them threw acid on my sister's face. I tried to help her and then they threw acid on me too," AFP quoted 16-year-old Atefa as saying. | "Two men on motorbikes stopped next to us. One of them threw acid on my sister's face. I tried to help her and then they threw acid on me too," AFP quoted 16-year-old Atefa as saying. |
| "We were shouting and people came to see what was going on, then the two men escaped," she said. | "We were shouting and people came to see what was going on, then the two men escaped," she said. |
| It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack. | It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack. |
| Atefa said she did not know why anyone would have attacked her and the others. | Atefa said she did not know why anyone would have attacked her and the others. |
| "I don't know why they did it," she said. "Kandahar is not safe. But we can't stay home, we want education. We need help from the government." | "I don't know why they did it," she said. "Kandahar is not safe. But we can't stay home, we want education. We need help from the government." |
| Nato-led forces in Afghanistan condemned the attack as cowardly. | |