4 killed, 22 injured in Kabul suicide bombing

KABUL (Pajhwok): Four people were killed and 22 others injured during a Taliban suicide attack on a Ministry of Defence bus in the central capital Kabul on Sunday morning, officials said.

The bombing took place in the Market area of Kart-i-Naw locality in the eighth police district at about 7:00am, tweeted the defence ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Zahir Azimi.

He said two security personnel and as many civilians were killed, while 22 others were wounded, including civilians and security personnel.

Speaking to journalists at the blast site, deputy police chief, Brig. Gen. Abdul Qayyum Baqizoi, said three security officials and a woman were killed and nine others injured in the assault.

The attacker detonated his explosive vest as he failed to force his way into the vehicle carrying air force staff, he added.  

Eyewitness Syed Farid said he heard a strong explosion as soon as the suicide bomber struck the bus transporting employees of the Afghan National Army (ANA). He added many people were killed and wounded.

Brig. Gen. Daulat Waziri, the deputy spokesperson for the defence ministry , said the attacker on foot targeted air force workers. But he had no further details.

As usual, the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The group’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said several security officers had suffered casualties.

The dead included three people in the vehicle and one female bystander, according to the Ministry of Interior spokesman, who said the bomber on foot blew himself up near the bus carrying Ministry of Defence staff.

On January 17, Taliban militants launched a suicide attack against a high-end restaurant in Kabul, killing 21 people, including 13 foreigners.

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