Two employees of a girls school in northeast Afghanistan have been taken into custody in connection with the suspected poisoning of 171 students and teachers earlier this week. Moelam Hussein, an administrator in Rostaq, Takhar province, confirms the two school workers are being questioned by police.
Takhar health director Dr. Hafizullah Safi said it appears the school’s water tank was contaminated with poison that caused the students and teachers to suffer dizziness, vomiting and fainting. Blood samples and water samples have been sent to Kabul for testing.
“Their health condition is good now. They now only are showing signs of dizziness, fatigue, and exhaustion. The results of our investigation are not yet known. It has not been confirmed whether they were really poisoned or they were affected by hysterics after seeing, in their words, a man close to the water tank -- and fainted as a result,” Safi said Wednesday."Perhaps that man did nothing and they fell ill due to a physiological effect. We've taken blood samples of five girls, as well as samples of the water, and sent them along to Kabul to make clear whether it was poisoning or just a psychological condition."
The girls were treated at hospital and are expected to make a full recovery. Officials previously said extremists opposed to the education of females were likely responsible for the attack.
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