Afghan School Girls Poisoned in Extremist Attack

by NowPublic Staff | April 17, 2012 at 10:41 am

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Girls at Afghan School Poisoned

150 schoolgirls, as well as some teachers, at a school in Kabul, Afghanistan have been hospitalized after drinking poisoned water. The youngest victim is 14; the oldest is 30.

The victims suffered dizziness and vomiting, while some partially lost consciousness. The regional health director confirmed that the girls and women had been poisoned.

Pro-Taliban religious extremists are blamed for the schoolgirl poisoning: this isn't the first time it's happened.

They said they knew the water had been poisoned because a larger tank used to fill the affected water jugs was not contaminated.

"This is not a natural illness. It's an intentional act to poison schoolgirls," said Haffizullah Safi, head of Takhar's public health department.