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School Bombing in Kabul Sparks International Outcry

Kabul (BNA) The multiple blasts near a girls’ school in Kabul was widely condemned by Afghanistan’s allies as an act of terror and an act against humanity.

The US State Department in a statement condemned the bombing and called for an immediate end to violence and the senseless targeting of innocent civilians. “We will continue to support and partner with the people of Afghanistan, who are determined to see to it that the gains of the past two decades aren’t erased,” the statement said.

The death toll in multiple blasts outside a girls’ school in Kabul on Saturday afternoon rose to over 50, the Ministry of Interior said on Sunday, adding that more than 100 others were wounded in the incident.

The incident started with a car bomb explosion outside Sayed -ul- Shuhada High School in west of Kabul on Saturday afternoon.  The Ministry of Interior said three blasts happened near the school: a car bomb attack and two IED blasts that were planted in the area.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “strongly condemned the horrific attack near a school in Kabul, Afghanistan, today, which killed and injured scores of civilians, including many girls.”

“Those responsible for this heinous crime must be held accountable,” Guterres said. He underlined the urgency of ending the violence in Afghanistan and achieving a peaceful settlement of the conflict.”

British Embassy in Kabul it is inconceivable that anyone could consider students at school as a legitimate target.

“We call for an immediate end to this violence before any more innocent children lose their lives,” it said.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said his country strongly condemns the horrific attack at a school in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing innocent children.

“We stand by the people and government of Afghanistan in their fight against terrorism and will continue to support Afghanistan on its path to peace, progress and prosperity,” Qureshi said.

“The targeting of civilians, including school children attending the Syed Al-Shahda school for girls in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood of Kabul, in a bomb attack is a blatant and despicable violation of international humanitarian law. We condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms,” EU said in a statement.

“Those responsible must be held to account, and those that support their actions should feel total shame. The attack is an attack not only on the Afghan population, but on all those worldwide that respect the equal rights of women and girls, and on all those that value education and the right of children to forge their futures,” it said.

The EU has called for “an immediate ceasefire in Afghanistan, in which a lasting peace can be achieved through an inclusive, negotiated political settlement among Afghans.”

“Our priority remains to support a prosperous, stable and secure Afghanistan, where the human rights of all – including women, children and minorities – are protected and respected,” EU said.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh condemned Saturday’s act of terrorism in Western Kabul, in which an educational Centre was attacked. In his statement, Khatibzadeh expressed disgust at the act of terrorism which targeted ordinary people, particularly students.

He also offered condolences to the relatives of the victims, and wished recovery for those injured in the terrorist attack.

Turkey also expressed sorrow for deadly blasts targeting a school in Afghanistan’s capital on Saturday.

“We are deeply saddened to receive the news that the detonation of an explosives-laden vehicle in a terrorist act during the time of Iftar at the entrance of a school in the Dast-i Barci district of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, has today (May 8) claimed the lives of at least 30 civilians, including students, and left over 50 people injured,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It “strongly condemned this inhumane terrorist attack on the blessed Laylat-al Qadr, condemn its perpetrators and hope that they will be brought to justice.”

Turkey wished “Allah’s mercy upon those who lost their lives in this heinous attack, speedy recovery to the injured and extend our sincere condolences to the friendly and brotherly people and Government of Afghanistan.”

The UAE has also strongly condemned the terror attack that targeted a school for girls in the Afghan capital, Kabul, that left scores of civilians killed and injured.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) emphasized that the UAE utterly condemns these criminal acts and rejects all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of all religious and human values.

The Ministry also offered its sincere condolences to the families of the victims of this heinous crime and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

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