3 children, 7 others wounded in grenade blast at abandoned school in Ayod

BOR – At least three South Sudanese children have been killed and seven others have been injured following a grenade blast at an abandoned school in Ayod County of South Sudan’s Jonglei state, several local government and security officials have said.

James Chuol Jiek, the Ayod County Commissioner said the incident occurred this morning in an area called Wau in Ayod resulting in the killing of three children and wounding of seven others.

“I received the report about this incident last night at 7 pm. Up to now, we are gathering details on what prompted the incident. Three children died on the spot and seven more are in critical condition,” Chuol said, according to independent Radio Tamazuj newspaper.

Another resident identified in the report as Gatkuoth Liah said the incident occurred at an abandoned school which is being used as a residence and that the children were playing when the blast occurred.

“Three children were killed and seven others injured near a school in Wau Payam. That school is not operational. It is being used as a residence. So, we do not know what prompted the incident,” he said.

Separately, Ayod County Police Inspector Col. Gatjuol Riek Lam, said an investigation has been launched into the incident and said no details has yet been established as to how the blast happened.

“The way it happened, there are no details. But that home is located near the school so it could be remnants of war,” he said.