24 June 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Armed men have torched a girls' school south of Kabul, AP reported on 23 June, quoting officials who spoke that same day
Authorities said the attack itself occurred on 21 June at Padkhwai Raghani, a village roughly 56 kilometers south of the capital. An unknown number of men came to the village school at night, tied up and beat two guards, and then doused the place with gasoline before setting it on fire. The school principal, Zaher Din, said the children wept when they saw that the school had been destroyed.
"The children are desperate for their classes to resume," Din said.
Repairs are reportedly under way and Din said he hopes to resume classes for the 665 students at the school by 25 June.
Interior Ministry spokesman Latfullah Mashal blamed neo-Taliban militants for the attack, saying the "burning of schools and education institutions is on the terrorists' agenda."
When in power, the Taliban regime refused to allow girls to go to school.
"The children are desperate for their classes to resume," Din said.
Repairs are reportedly under way and Din said he hopes to resume classes for the 665 students at the school by 25 June.
Interior Ministry spokesman Latfullah Mashal blamed neo-Taliban militants for the attack, saying the "burning of schools and education institutions is on the terrorists' agenda."
When in power, the Taliban regime refused to allow girls to go to school.