“Our detective and security forces are working quickly to identify the perpetrators of this unforgivable crime and punish them for their actions,” tweeted Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Nafay Takor.

At least 16 people were killed and 24 others injured Wednesday when a blast occurred at a madrassa in Afghanistan’s northern town of Aybak, a hospital official at a local medical center said.

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There have been a series of attacks on civilians since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in August of last year, most claimed by the local chapter of the Islamic State (IS) group.

The doctor in Aybak, about 200 kilometres (130 miles) north of the capital Kabul, said the casualties were mostly children and teenagers.

“All of them are children and ordinary people,” he told AFP, asking not to be named.

A provincial official confirmed the blast at the madrassa but was unable to release casualty figures.

The Taliban, which regularly downplays injury figures, reported 10 students and teachers had died and several were hurt.

“Our detective and security forces are working quickly to identify the perpetrators of this unforgivable crime and punish them for their actions,” tweeted Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Nafay Takor.

Images and video files circulating on the web that could not immediately be confirmed showed Taliban fighters walking through bodies strewn inside the building.

In the videos and posts, it can be seen that prayer mats, shattered glass and other debris littered the scene.