May 29th, 2012
06:16 AM ET

160 Afghan schoolgirls poisoned, official says

A hospital in northern Afghanistan admitted 160 girls Tuesday after they were poisoned in their classrooms with a type of spray, a Takhar police official said.

The incident, the second in a week's time, was reported at the Aahan Dara Girls school in Talokhan, the provincial capital.

The girls, ages 10 to 20, complained of headaches, dizziness and vomiting before being taken to the hospital, according to Khalilullah Aseer, a police spokesman. More than half of them had been discharged within a few hours of receiving treatment, he said. Blood samples were taken and sent to Kabul for testing.

Last week, more than 120 girls and three teachers were admitted to a hospital after a similar suspected poisoning.

"The Afghan people know that the terrorists and the Taliban are doing these things to threaten girls and stop them going to school," Aseer said last week. "That's something we and the people believe. Now we are implementing democracy in Afghanistan and we want girls to be educated, but the government's enemies don't want this."

But earlier this week, the Taliban denied responsibility, instead blaming the U.S. and NATO forces for the poisonings in an attempt to "defame" the insurgent group.

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Filed under: Afghanistan • World
soundoff (44 Responses)
  1. It seems

    Only renegade muslims sided with Hitler along with false christians. (if you are under the influence of mind-altering drugs, you won't be able to make the connection, so why bother trying?)

    May 29, 2012 at 8:49 am | Report abuse |
    • Phil in Oregon

      Only real heroes have to assault little girls. Real MACHO men. Real sick.

      May 29, 2012 at 2:44 pm | Report abuse |
  2. It seems

    A true Muslim would never harm his own schoolgirls with asbestos or any other poison. These are the things renegades do. Both renegade muslims AND renegade christians.

    May 29, 2012 at 8:53 am | Report abuse |
  3. It seems

    A true Muslim and a true Christian would get along just fine, both understanding the others right to exist without being invaded and occupied by foreigners. Both with the understanding that to join in the invasion would bring no honor to God. Both with the understanding that these are the wars of men, not of God.
    It is those NOT true to their chosen God who are at fault. Those EXPOSED by even their own holy books as being false lawbreakers.

    May 29, 2012 at 8:59 am | Report abuse |
  4. It seems

    Karzai is a renegade muslim, a US citizen placed in power as an American puppet. (duh)

    May 29, 2012 at 9:01 am | Report abuse |
    • ♚Mmmmm♛

      renagade...infidel...same difference...muslim on muslim molestations and atrocities that include babies, girls, children, boys, grandmothers, grandfathers, women, men, sons, daughters, cousins, mothers, fathers, whole families...who have you excluded???

      May 29, 2012 at 9:08 am | Report abuse |
  5. It seems

    No. An infidel is a person who doesn't believe in God. A renegade is a person who claims to believe, but sides with the invading infidels anyway.

    May 29, 2012 at 9:12 am | Report abuse |
  6. ct

    Thank you george bush for creating this mess...

    May 29, 2012 at 9:19 am | Report abuse |
  7. Portland tony

    Not too many reliable sources for this story! All these poisonings of school kids just might be contributed to contamination in their wellls or ground water!

    May 29, 2012 at 9:24 am | Report abuse |
  8. saywhat

    Besides @ Portland tony, as I wrote in a thread on Syria. There is open season in these places.
    Spy agencies and covert missions from every meddling country and its neighbor are on the ground to further own agenda.
    Propaganda abounds.
    Good morning all.

    May 29, 2012 at 10:47 am | Report abuse |
  9. The Koran

    Not me at 9:13. (duh) The Koran clearly identifies Usama Bin Laden as a renegade muslim, not true to Allah. Just as the Koran identifies any muslim siding with the invading infidels as 'renegade'.
    True Muslims view Usama Bin Laden just as true Christians viewed priests and parrishoners who sided with Hitler; as fakes who twist even the words of their own holy books to suit themselves.

    May 29, 2012 at 11:19 am | Report abuse |
  10. saywhat

    @ The Koran

    Majority of muslims in countries which are called Islamic and elsewhere have been against the brand of islam propagated by Talibans or the agenda of Al-Qaeda.
    Its unfortunate that instead of playing that sentiment to our advantage , our policies in Iraq, Afghanistan and with pakistan have turned this sentiment into resentment against our prolonged occupation of their lands. civilian deaths and reviling their religion and Koran has further made our already failing mission a disaster.

    May 29, 2012 at 1:00 pm | Report abuse |
  11. fernace

    My 1st thought was: who thinks of women as property & wants them to remain uneducated & subjugated–the Taliban! We are finally pulling out of Afghanistan, something that should've happened on the last admin. watch! I'm pretty sure we, NATO, the world, wont just stand by & allow Taliban terrorists free rein, but it truly is an Afghani issue & should be solved by its citizens! Of course they're tired of occupation & we are tired of our troops still having to be in harms way for no reason, except as "security detail"! Leave the Afghan people to figure out what they want, on their own, like Syria, Yemen & Egypt! Lend help when Asked (like Syria has), otherwise trust sovreign peoples to build their own societies! Seems they have been informed that there's a better way out there & want it for themselves & their families! Oppression fails because humans refuse to live in bondage! It's not a natural state! "Liberty & Justice for All" has gone global, no holding back now!!

    May 29, 2012 at 3:46 pm | Report abuse |
  12. lets hope

    Let us all hope the Taliban never finds out about asbestos in schools.

    May 29, 2012 at 5:43 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Odd

    Saudi Arabia is what comes to mind when oppressed women are mentioned. And domestic violence.

    May 29, 2012 at 5:45 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Pnm9pnm

    It could be some one els besides jihad joesafein 4many reason others would do this yet not the USA there hone gov. Mite ha e done it to keep us thare an or any one making bucks off this war n more.pnm

    May 29, 2012 at 10:45 pm | Report abuse |
  15. JGallagher Average American

    Shame Shame America all i see is me me me .. my type of religion... my country still needs this... . They dont want our help..... If we do a good deed we want repayment...... What is the rule : Do onto others as you would have others do onto YOU. Life is ment to be lived free without fear. These 160 girls & young women just want to have a brighter tomorrow. Terrorist will take easy road & attack women& children they fear real men who are there to opose them. Cowards brainwashed fools are these groups whom committed these crimes. Any one recall the Tower of Babbel ?? Our langue may be diffrent but we are all from one orginal source remember that & life will be free... ignore that & live the life of me me me you get men who belive they will have this or that when THEY get to" heaven" after commiting these acts. So caught up in me me me they dont see the pain in the eyes of those innocent children & women there attacking to get there "afterlife reward". Open your eyes stop looking to the skys & take this life &lets help these 160 live it free of fear !!!

    May 30, 2012 at 8:04 am | Report abuse |
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