Damaged in the attack was a middle school that was to serve as a polling station in Shejank area of Syed Karam district, said the education director.

Engineer Mehrabuddin Shafaq told Pajhwok Afghan News the explosion comprehensively destroyed a library and three administrative rooms.

Established three years ago with financial support from Italy, the school had 18 teachers and 450 students.

The attack came hours after a suicide bomber on foot blew himself up at a polling station in the central province of Uruzgan, killing six people.

The director quoted a watchman of the school as saying a number of people entered the building last night and planted bombs after forcing him out.

Taliban, who have vowed to disrupt the Thursday’s presidential and provincial council elections, asserted responsibility for bombing the polling station.

Zabihullah Mujahid said they bombed the school which was to be used as a polling station. He claimed election materials and a vehicle were also destroyed in the attack.

However, the director and police chief said the poll materials would be sent to the school later today. Police chief Gen Aziz Ahmad Wardak said a police team had been sent to the area for investigation.

Election officer in the southeastern zone, Najib Ahmadzai, declined to comment on the incident that took place in Paktia, where there are a total of 32 polling stations.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry condemned the bombing of school and asked all the security organs to make efforts to prevent such attacks and arrest the culprits.

ma/mud