Kabul school grenade attack injures children

On August 17, 2026, a hand grenade exploded near a school in Afghanistan — Kabul's Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood, a predominantly Hazara and Shiite area, injuring at least 42 children, according to the International — United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Afghan media reported around 50 children were wounded. The victims, aged 9 to 14, suffered shrapnel injuries, with at least three requiring surgery. The Taliban-run Afghanistan — Kabul police confirmed the incident and launched an investigation. The Afghanistan — Directorate of Mine Action Coordination determined a grenade had exploded. No group claimed responsibility, and the circumstances remain unclear, with conflicting reports of an attack or unexploded ordnance. The attack drew condemnation from UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett and the European Union's mission in Afghanistan, who called for an independent investigation. Dasht-e-Barchi has been repeatedly targeted by Sunni extremist groups, including Islamic State, which has previously attacked Hazara civilians and schools. The incident highlights ongoing security and human rights concerns for the Hazara community under Taliban rule.