Homs school bombing

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Location34°42′40″N 36°42′51″E / 34.71111°N 36.71417°E / 34.71111; 36.71417
Akrama al-Makhzumi, Homs, Syria
Date1 October 2014 (2014-10-01)
~12:00 (UTC+02:00)
TargetAkrama al-Makhzumi elementary school
Attack type
IED, suicide bomber
Homs school bombing
The attacker detonated an IED in front of the school (left), then blew himself up at the gate of another school (right).
Location34°42′40″N 36°42′51″E / 34.71111°N 36.71417°E / 34.71111; 36.71417
Akrama al-Makhzumi, Homs, Syria
Date1 October 2014 (2014-10-01)
~12:00 (UTC+02:00)
TargetAkrama al-Makhzumi elementary school
Attack type
IED, suicide bomber
Deaths54
MotiveSectarian

The Homs school bombing occurred on 1 October 2014 in Homs, Syria in an Alawite majority neighborhood during the Syrian civil war.[1][2] The attacker initially detonated an IED that was in front of the Akrama al-Makhzumi Al-Muhdatha elementary school.[a] Then he blew himself up at another gate of a nearby school, Akrama al-Makhzumi.[5][6] The double bombing killed 54 people: 47 children, three members of security forces and four adult civilians.[1][5] The attack was the deadliest strike to occur in a government controlled area in over a year, with no group immediately taking responsibility.[2]

Following the bombing, several protests broke out because of the government's failure to prevent the attack. Although most protestors were reportedly pro-government, many called for the removal of Talal Al-Barazi, the provincial governor for the Homs Governorate. Talal was never removed from office. Protests never turned to be anti-government.[7]

International reactions

The Syrian Foreign Ministry sent letters to the United Nations and Security Council, in which they accused the so-called "moderate armed opposition" of planning and executing the attacks.[8] However, the members of the Security Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Special Representative Leila Zerrougui all condemned the attack against civilians including children.[9]

British Minister for the Middle East Tobias Ellwood said: "I condemn recent attacks in Syria targeting civilians. These have included the bombing of a school in Homs, the continued use of indiscriminate barrel bombs by the Assad regime in Aleppo province, and the siege around Kobane. Such attacks underline the dreadful toll that the conflict continues to take on the Syrian people and we call on all parties to end the deliberate targeting of civilians. The UK will continue to press for those responsible for such attacks to be held accountable and to press for a political solution to bring to an end the suffering of the Syrian people."[10]

Possible perpetrators

Notes

References

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