Armed men set a boys' high school on fire in southern Afghanistan on Monday night, the latest in a string of arson attacks blamed on Taliban militants, an official said Tuesday. No one was hurt.
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The attack in Nad Ali district, Helmand province, damaged three classrooms, destroying desks and books, said district chief Juma Gul.
The school, attended by 800 students, was empty at the time. Gul said the attackers fled.
He blamed Taliban militants and said police arrested some suspects on Tuesday, but didn't say how many or identify them.
Dozens of schools have been targeted by arsonists since US-led forces ousted the Taliban in 2001, and hundreds more, particularly in volatile southern and eastern regions, are closed because of poor security.
The Taliban, whose militants are active in the south, maintains that educating girls is against Islam and also opposes government-funded schools for boys because they teach subjects besides religion.
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