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Worst attack since Taliban toppled kills 35
IN the deadliest attack in Afghanistan since the Taliban regime was toppled six years ago, a suicide bomber has killed 35 people and wounded dozens in Kabul. Most of the dead were instructors going to work at the city's police academy. Bystanders and five foreigners were also killed, according to police.President Hamid Karzai condemned the attack and said the country would continue to work towards reconstruction despite attacks from the "enemies of Afghanistan". The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast, which reduced a police bus to a skeleton of black metal. Body parts and human flesh were flung across a wide area. "We have got 35 people martyred and 52 wounded," Kabul province police chief Esmatullah Dauladzai told news agency AFP. "Those killed include mostly officers and civilians." Among the wounded were two Japanese, a Korean and two Pakistani nationals, he said. The injuries could not be immediately confirmed by the relevant embassies. "It is the work of terrorists, al-Qaeda and murderers of the people," said the city's criminal investigation department chief Alishah Paktiawal. Mr Dauladzai said investigations indicated the bombing was carried out by an individual wearing black clothes who was aboard the police bus. Claiming responsibility, the Taliban said the attacker had infiltrated the police on the orders of one of the group's most senior commanders, Jalaluddin Haqqani. "Under his direct orders, today he strapped explosives on his body and exploded himself inside the police bus," spokesman Saluhuddin Ayobi said. There had been rumours that Haqqani, who was a minister in the 1996-2001 Taliban government, had died, but Ayobi said he was "alive and leading the jihad (holy war) against the US forces and the puppet Kabul Government". The sirens of ambulances wailed across the city as the wounded were ferried to hospitals. 24 people were hospitalised, health ministry director general Salam Jalali said. The blast took place in a crowded part of the city centre. Two nearby minibuses were damaged and witnesses said bystanders may also have been hit. Posted by: tipper 2007-06-17 |
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