Militants attack girls’ school in Khyber region

Last Updated: Thursday, November 05, 2009, 15:02

Tags: Pak girls’ school, Khyber region

Islamabad: Militants today blew up a state-run girls' school in Pakistan's troubled Khyber tribal region, the second such attack in the area in four days.

Officials of the local political administration said militants used 25 to 30 kg of explosives in the attack on the two-storey school at Ika Khel area of Khyber Agency.

Eight of the school’s 26 rooms were completely destroyed.

There were no reports of casualties in the attack.

A total of 750 girls were enrolled at the school. Four days ago, militants had destroyed an 18-room government high school for girls at Kari Gar village in Khyber Agency.

Four persons in nearby homes were injured by the blast.

Militants who are opposed to the education of girls have destroyed hundreds of schools in northwest Pakistan over the past two years.

Nearly 200 schools were destroyed in the Swat valley alone.

Authorities briefly shut schools and colleges across Pakistan last month after two suicide bombers struck the International Islamic University in Islamabad.

Bureau Report

First Published: Thursday, November 05, 2009, 15:02