Rocket Kills Six Afghan School Children

A rocket attack killed six school children and injured at least 14 others Tuesday in the northeastern area of Afghanistan, the BBC reported.

Two rockets were fired and one hit a school yard which is the classroom for hundreds of elementary school children. The school is located in Asadabad, capital of Kunar province bordering Pakistan.

Deputy provincial police chief Mohammad Hassan Farahi said, Afghanistan’s enemy fired two rockets. There were no casualties reported from the other rocket.

The injured children were taken to a US-led coalition military base hospital, the report said.

Schools in Afghanistan are overcrowded and often children must study in the yard due to a lack of proper facilities. This school was in session with children from 6-16 years old attending when the rocket hit.

Taliban and other militant forces are known to operate in Kunar province and have made many attacks on the U.S.-led coalition base which is located near the school.