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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Acid attack on Afghan schoolgirls | Acid attack on Afghan schoolgirls |
| (about 1 hour 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 the attack happened shortly before at least six people were killed in a bomb blast near a government building in the city. | |
| Doctors say 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. |
| A spokesman for the Taleban denied involvement in the attack. | A spokesman for the Taleban denied involvement in the attack. |
| The former Taleban government - ousted from power in 2001 - banned girls from attending school. | The former Taleban government - ousted from power in 2001 - banned girls from attending school. |
| 'Not safe' | 'Not safe' |
| "We were going to school on foot when two unknown people on a motorcycle came close to us and threw acid in our faces," 16-year-old Atifa told the BBC. | "We were going to school on foot when two unknown people on a motorcycle came close to us and threw acid in our faces," 16-year-old Atifa told the BBC. |
| "I want to ask the government why they cannot protect us, we girls want to study but the government is not helping us. We want better security." | |
| She said the attack took place on Wednesday morning outside the Mirwais Nika Girls High School. | |
| Officials say that two attackers used a toy gun to spray the acid and fled as soon as people came to the assistance of the girls. | |
| Atifa said she did not know why anyone would have attacked her and the others. | Atifa 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 at home, we want an education." | |
| The BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul says the incident has shocked ordinary Afghans. | |
| Nato-led forces in Afghanistan condemned the attack as cowardly. | Nato-led forces in Afghanistan condemned the attack as cowardly. |