Would-be teen suicide bomber says religious teachers ‘forced’ him into planned attack

Fourteen-year-old Shakirullah was apprehended three months ago by Afghan troops in Khost Province, moments before he was to detonate his vest packed with explosives in a suicide bombing attempt. Now held in a detention center for minors, he admits it was his religious teachers who first encouraged and then forced him to attempt the attack, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on June 6.

Living with his family in Pakistan, Shakirullah was sent to the Salib madrasah for religious education. After six months of Koran instruction, the boy says his teachers gave him the suicide vest and took him across the border into Afghanistan.

Told he would “never die” if he sacrificed himself, and assured he would “come back” to see his family, the teachers gradually increased their pressure on Shakirullah to commit the suicide bombing. Finally he was told that he would not be allowed to see his family again until he carried out the attack.

According to the report, Shakirullah now believes that his religious instructors took advantage of his young age. He says he is happy to be alive and safe, but also that he “misses his mother and wants desperately to see her again.”

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