Girls injured in Kashmir assassination bid

Islamic guerrillas tried to assassinate an Indian Government minister in Kashmir today but missed their target and injured three schoolgirls, officials said.

The grenade attack at a school in Srinagar targeted Omar Abdullah, the junior commerce minister, who escaped unhurt.

Officials said guerrillas fired three rifle grenades at the Government Girls College shortly after Abdullah left the school, where he had just given a speech.

A spokesman for the Hezb-ul Mujahedeen, Kashmir’s largest militant group, later claimed responsibility.