Grenade explosion injures dozens of children in Kabul

On Monday evening, an explosion occurred at an educational facility in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood of Kabul, an area predominantly inhabited by the Hazara and Shia minorities. The blast resulted in injuries to dozens of students. Reports on the exact number of casualties vary; while Kabul police initially described the injuries as minor, local media outlets and UN bodies suggest that between 42 and 50 children were injured. The victims, aged between 10 and 14, suffered mostly from abrasions, with at least three requiring surgical intervention at a local hospital managed by the EMERGENCY organization.

United Nations Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett has condemned the attack. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is calling for a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances of the incident. While Afghan police have characterized the event as a grenade explosion, they have not provided definitive confirmation on whether it was a deliberate targeted attack or an accidental detonation. The Dasht-e-Barchi district has a history of being targeted by Sunni militant groups, including the Islamic State, though no group has claimed responsibility for this latest event. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as victims recover from their injuries.