Incident Summary:

06/18/2020: A mortar shell detonated in front of a Madrasa in Shar-e-Kohna, Takhar, Afghanistan. At least 10 Madrasa students were killed and eight students were injured in the blast. No group claimed responsibility for the incident.

GTD ID:
202006180001

When:
2020-06-18

Country:
Afghanistan

Region:
South Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Takhar

City:
Shar-e-Kohna

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Religious Figures/Institutions
Name of Entity Unknown
Specific Description Madrasa
Nationality of Target Afghanistan
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Unknown
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Projectile (rockets, mortars, RPGs, etc.)
Weapon Details
A rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) was used in the attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) Yes
Alternate Designation (more) Lack of Intentionality
Additional Information There is doubt that this incident meets terrorism-related criteria. Some sources suggested the explosion may have been caused by an old unexploded ordinance. Casualty numbers conflict across sources. Following GTD protocol, the majority reliable estimates are reported here.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Unknown No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 7 Fatalities / 8 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 7
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 8
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Takhar seminary blast leaves 10 students dead," Pajhwok Afghan News, June 18, 2020.
"Seven killed, eight wounded in blast in north Afghanistan," Afghan Islamic Press news agency, June 18, 2020.
"Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020," NYTimes.com Feed, June 4, 2020.