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Suicide bomber attacks Kabul school during show | Suicide bomber attacks Kabul school during show |
(35 minutes later) | |
A suicide bomber has struck during a show at a school in the Afghan capital Kabul, killing one person and injuring dozens, officials say. | |
The attack happened at the French-funded Istiqlala secondary school, home to the French Cultural Centre. | The attack happened at the French-funded Istiqlala secondary school, home to the French Cultural Centre. |
A witness told the BBC that the attacker detonated his explosives among the audience. | A witness told the BBC that the attacker detonated his explosives among the audience. |
Earlier, at least six Afghan soldiers were killed by a suicide bomber on the outskirts of Kabul. | Earlier, at least six Afghan soldiers were killed by a suicide bomber on the outskirts of Kabul. |
The Taliban said they carried out that attack, the first by them in the capital for more than a week. | The Taliban said they carried out that attack, the first by them in the capital for more than a week. |
So far no group has said it carried out the attack on the school. | So far no group has said it carried out the attack on the school. |
The identity of the person killed was not immediately known, but reports said they were foreign. | |
Aftermath | |
Kabul's new police chief, Abdul Rahman Rahimi, told reporters that the suicide bomber was a teenager aged about 16. | |
Footage on Afghan television showed the aftermath of the explosion with injured people in the street outside. | |
It is understood that the French Cultural Centre had been hosting a musical performance - called Heart Beat - at the time. | |
The school was inaugurated in 1974 with more than 2,000 students and is regarded as one of the best in the country. | The school was inaugurated in 1974 with more than 2,000 students and is regarded as one of the best in the country. |
It is in the heart of Kabul, close to the presidential palace and the foreign ministry. | |
Last month, Kabul's police chief resigned following a surge in attacks by Afghan militants on foreigners in the city. | Last month, Kabul's police chief resigned following a surge in attacks by Afghan militants on foreigners in the city. |
The Taliban have stepped up attacks in Afghanistan as most foreign combat troops prepare to leave the country later this month. | The Taliban have stepped up attacks in Afghanistan as most foreign combat troops prepare to leave the country later this month. |
President Ashraf Ghani, who took power in September, has vowed to bring peace after decades of conflict. | President Ashraf Ghani, who took power in September, has vowed to bring peace after decades of conflict. |