BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Insurgents blew up a school built by Afghan citizens and sponsored by Coalition forces in Farouq, Pakitka Province, April 3.

School was not in session, and no one was hurt in the blast.

Afghan National Police responded to the incident and began an investigation, talking with villagers and collecting evidence.

Villagers told the police and Coalition forces that a man with his face veiled exited a taxi in front of the school. The detonation occurred approximately twenty minutes after the taxi departed.

On multiple occasions, insurgents in Afghanistan have destroyed schools and threatened to murder teachers in an attempt to undermine Afghan government efforts to provide a better education for Afghan youth.

“Last year, we lost 220 students and teachers in the violence,” said Hamid Elmi, an Afghan education spokesman.

The Afghan Ministry of Education and Coalition forces plans to build more than 1,100 schools in 2009.