Afghanistan Times
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By Farhad Naibkhel-KABUL: At least 16 people mostly civilians were martyred and about 60 others wounded Wednesday in two suicide bombings targeted security offices in Kabul city, security and health officials said.
An attacker rammed his explosives laden vehicle at the entrance of the police district 6 headquarters in the western part of the city, helping his comrades to storm the compound at 12:35pm.
“Four attackers entered the compound,” said Basir Mujahed, the Kabul police spokesman.
“Totally, 15 people were martyred and more than 50 others injured.”
He could not clarify the number of police officers killed or injured, but said most of them were civilians. “There are three women among the martyred,” he said, adding that they were martyred due to windows shattering.
Some senior police officers were also martyred, according to reports.
The blast was as strong as shattered the windows of the houses and shops nearby. The sound of the explosion was enough loud that heard across the city.
Security forces arrived in the area and started operation against the attackers. The almost 6-hour gun battle ended after the last attacker was killed, a police officer in the scene said, asking anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Mujahed said that three of the attackers were gunned down at the “first minutes” of the gun fires.
“The last one who was injured hiding at a corner resisted for a couple of hours.”
At the same time, two bombers on foot attacked an intelligence office close to the police district 12 in the eastern part of the capital. The first attacker blew himself up at the gate, according to security sources, who said the second one was gunned down before detonating his explosives.
“One person was killed and five more wounded,” said Wahidullah Majrooh, spokesman for the ministry of public health.
Taliban claimed responsibility for the two attacks, saying that several security forces were killed and injured.
President Ashraf Ghani condemned the two attacks, saying that terrorists and “their alien masters” once again tried to create panic in the capital.
“They (the Taliban militants), after the death of their senior commander Mullah Salam in Kunduz province and their consecutive defeats in battle grounds, are trying to give morale to their fighters.”
Hamid Karzai, the former president also “strongly” condemned the attacks, saying they were carried out by the “enemies of peace and stability in Afghanistan”. Karzai called the attacks against all norms and principle of humanity and Islam.
“The enemies of Afghanistan are trying to demoralize our people by carrying out such attacks. But they should know that the people of Afghanistan are standing united against the conspiracies of their enemies and will not let them approach their goals,” Karzai was quoted by a statement as saying.
The US embassy to Kabul, called the attacks as an act of “extraordinary cowardice”.
“We share the sorrow of all Afghans over these heinous acts, which only strengthen our resolve to continue to work tirelessly in pursuit of a peaceful future for Afghanistan.”
