153 injured in Wardak coordinated assault

KABUL and children, were injured and four security officials killed when insurgents detonated a car bomb outside an intelligence office and attacked the compound using guns in central Maidan Wardak province on Sunday.

Another at least 10 National Directorate of Security (NDS) officials were injured in the coordinated attack that began around 1pm in Maidan Shahr, the provincial capital, with the car suicide bombing shattering windows in a wide stretch of the city.

Provincial Public Health Director Dr. Mukhlis Wardak told Pajhwok Afghan News the blast left 153 people injured, including 23 women, two children and 127 men. Most of them suffered injuries due to flying glasses, he said.

He said the Public Health Department was among several others government buildings damaged by the powerful blast.

The governor’s spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, said the attackers first blew up a car laden with explosives in front of the NDS office and then tried to attack it on foot using guns.

The three attackers on foot were killed during a gun-battle with security forces, he said, describing the blast as powerful that shattered windows of nearby governor’s house and other government offices and shops. Most injured were government employees, shop owners and motorists.

Deputy provincial council head Hazrat Mohammad Janan said mostly civilians bore the brunt of the coordinated assault.

A security official said four NDS officials were killed and 10 others sustained slight injuries.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack, with their spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid saying one fighter blew up the bomb-rigged car near the NDS office, allowing his three waiting comrades to storm the compound.

He said a large number of Afghan and foreign troops were killed and wounded in the brazen attack targeting the NDS office and the provincial reconstruction) compound.

An official at the governor’s house, who sustained injuries in the blast, told Pajhwok Afghan News they were sitting in their official chambers when a huge blast took place.

Residents said the blast was so powerful that it was heard miles away. A Narkh district resident, Nimatullah, said they also heard the blast.

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