Deadly suicide bombing interrupts play condemning suicide bombings

Masoud Popalzai and Greg Botelho, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 3:57 PM EST, Thu December 11, 2014
A man lies on a hospital bed Thursday, December 11, after a suicide attack at Istiqlal High School, a French-funded school in Kabul, Afghanistan. The attack occurred during a play that condemns suicide attacks, the French foreign minister said.
Suicide bombing at Afghan high school —
A man lies on a hospital bed Thursday, December 11, after a suicide attack at Istiqlal High School, a French-funded school in Kabul, Afghanistan. The attack occurred during a play that condemns suicide attacks, the French foreign minister said.
Massoud Hossaini/AP
Security forces stand guard in front of the main gate of the school. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, according to spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.
Suicide bombing at Afghan high school —
Security forces stand guard in front of the main gate of the school. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, according to spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.
Massoud Hossaini/AP
Security personnel stand guard near the bomb site.
Suicide bombing at Afghan high school —
Security personnel stand guard near the bomb site.
SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images
Naser Sarmast, the head of the Musicians' Institute of Afghanistan, lies on a hospital bed after the attack.
Suicide bombing at Afghan high school —
Naser Sarmast, the head of the Musicians' Institute of Afghanistan, lies on a hospital bed after the attack.
Massoud Hossaini/AP
The theater at the school was packed for a performance of a play titled "Heartbeats: Silence after the Explosion."
Suicide bombing at Afghan high school —
The theater at the school was packed for a performance of a play titled "Heartbeats: Silence after the Explosion."
SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images
Afghans wait outside of a hospital where victims where taken.
Suicide bombing at Afghan high school —
Afghans wait outside of a hospital where victims where taken.
Massoud Hossaini/AP
Suicide bombing at Afghan high school

Story highlights

NEW: A German national has been killed in the attack, a Kabul police spokesman says

A suicide bomber detonates explosives during a play called "Silence after the Explosion"

The attack occurred inside a French-funded high school in central Kabul

The Taliban claim responsibility for the attack, a spokesman says

Kabul, Afghanistan CNN  — 

A suicide bomber detonated explosives Thursday inside a French-funded school in Kabul during a play that condemns suicide attacks, leading to deaths and numerous injuries, the French foreign minister said.

The attack happened at Istiqlal High School, a school that includes a French cultural center, in the Afghan capital. The Taliban – the Islamist extremist group fighting against Afghanistan’s ruling government and firmly opposed by various Western powers – claimed responsibility, according to spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

Around 5 p.m., the theater at the school in central Kabul was packed for a performance of a play titled “Heartbeats: Silence after the Explosion.” It abruptly ended about 30 minutes later with a very loud bang, a bright light, smoke and dust, according to witness Zahir Sangar.

“When I tried to escape, I saw tens of people covered in blood, some of them were screaming and some of them were quiet,” the student said.

Acting Afghan Interior Minister Mohammad Ayoub Salangi said that one person was killed and 15 others injured in the bombing.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said a short time later that several people had died. It was not clear exactly how many or whether the suicide bomber was among the fatalities, though Fabius did say that no French citizens were among the casualties.

“All light must be shed on this barbaric act,” Fabius said. “And its perpetrators (must be) identified and brought to justice.”

The dead include a German national, Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai said.

French President Francois Hollande also issued a statement condemning what he called a “heinous attack.”

“By targeting this place of dialogue,” Hollande said, “it is the culture … that terrorists have targeted.”

CNN’s Masoud Popalzai reported from Kabul. CNN’s Greg Botelho reported and wrote from Atlanta.