Beit Lahiya: Unidentified gunmen vandalised a private American school in northern Gaza on Saturday, smashing windows, burning buses and looting computers.

Officials believe the attack on the American International School was linked to US President George W. Bush’s visit to the West Bank earlier this week.

Saturday's attack was the second in 48 hours. On Thursday, just before Bush arrived in the West Bank, gunmen fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the school.

"This is terrorism against education," said Principal Ribhi Salim, while inspecting damage.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack, which left one side of the building scarred with black smoke.

The school has been repeatedly targeted by vandals in the past for its perceived US link.

Ihab Ghussein, a spokesman for the Hamas-led Interior Ministry in the Gaza Strip, condemned the attack. He believed the attacks were related to Bush's recent visit.

"Regardless of the reasons—whether to protest, or because of the visit of the American president, this is not a way to express oneself. This is a criminal act," Ghussein said.