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Kabul suicide bomber attacks French school during show | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
French officials say "several people" have been killed by a suicide bomber who attacked a French-run school in the Afghan capital Kabul during a show. | |
At least 15 people were injured in the attack on the Istiqlala 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 - one of the most well known in Afghanistan. | |
Afghan officials would only confirm that one person had been killed, and reports said the person was foreign. | |
But a French foreign ministry spokesman later said "several people" died in the "barbaric" attack. | |
Aftermath | Aftermath |
Kabul's new police chief, Abdul Rahman Rahimi, told reporters that the suicide bomber was a teenager aged about 16. | Kabul's new police chief, Abdul Rahman Rahimi, told reporters that the suicide bomber was a teenager aged about 16. |
A witness who said he was no more than 5m (49ft) from the explosion, said the blast came about 20 minutes into the performance of a production called Heart Beat, about freedom and democracy and against violence. | |
About 500 people were in the auditorium at the time and security was very tight, he added. | |
Footage on Afghan television showed the aftermath of the explosion with injured people in the street outside. | Footage on Afghan television showed the aftermath of the explosion with injured people in the street outside. |
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. | 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. |