Afghanistan bomb attack on Kabul school kills at least 55 female students, 150 injured

According to Afghan government officials at least 55 people - most believed to be female students - have been killed in a bomb attack on a school in west Kabul, .

Also, 150 are reported to have been injured by the blast, which happened in the Shia-majority neighbourhood of Dasht-i-Barchi.

The Afghan president blamed the Taliban for the attack - but they pointed the finger at Islamic State.

No group has yet claimed responsibility.

Most of the casualties are believed to be female students between 11 and 15 years old, who were leaving school at the time of the attack.

The school operates three shifts, the second of which is for girls, said education ministry spokeswoman Najiba Arian.

The horrendous attack in Dasht-i Barchi area in Kabul, is an despicable act of terrorism," the EU mission in

Afghanistan said on Twitter.

"Targeting primarily students in a girls' school, makes this an attack on the future of Afghanistan."

In Kabul, terrorists committed a horrendous attack on school children, most of them girls. The escalation of terrorism is alarming for peace and democracy in Afghanistan. World leaders must unite to safeguard school-children. My heart is with the #Kabul school victims’ families.

— Malala (@Malala) May 9, 2021

Associated Press journalists reported seeing at least 20 dead bodies in hallways and rooms in the hospital.

One grieving relative told Reuters news agency: "I do not know what country we are in... We want peace and security."

The US said last month that it would start withdrawing its remaining 2,500 to 3,500 troops - with the pull-out complete by 11 September.

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Officials say the Taliban has increased its attacks recently, and Afghan president Ashraf Ghani blamed the group for the school attack.

However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied involvement and condemned the incident.

He said only the Islamic State group could be behind such an atrocity.

IS previously claimed attacks against Shias in the same area last year, including two on education facilities that killed 50 people.

The US and Taliban signed a deal last year to end the 20-year war - which began after Osama bin Laden was sheltered by the Taliban government.

America agreed to pull out in exchange for Taliban security guarantees and the start of peace talks between the group and the Afghan government.

The talks began, but stalled last year and attacks on government forces continue.