Afghanistan: Suicide bomber in Kabul kills 11, over 25 wounded
An explosion has rocked Kabul's Banaee area in an alleged suicide bombing on Thursday.
In Short
- Blast happened in Kabul's Banaee area.
- security official at the scene confirmed the explosion had been caused by a suicide attack.
- Police officers at the scene said the bomber had been wearing police/army uniform.
An explosion has rocked Kabul's Banaee area in an alleged suicide bombing on Thursday.
Islamic State, which has claimed a series of attacks in Kabul over the past two years, issued a statement on its Amaq news agency saying it was responsible.
It said a suicide bomber targeting a group of police and intelligence service personnel had detonated an explosive vest, killing or wounding around 80 of them.
The explosion occurred at around 8:30pm Kabul time.
The blast has caused casualties among security personnel who had been carrying out an operation against illegal drugs and alcohol deals, witnesses and police officials said.
Wahid Majroh, a spokesman for the ministry of public health, said 11 dead and 25 wounded had been brought to city hospitals after the blast in an area of the city not far from the U.S. Embassy and other foreign missions.
Officials said the bomber blew himself up after approaching a group of security personnel who had been conducting an operation against illegal drugs and alcohol sales in an area of Kabul not far from the U.S. embassy and other foreign missions.
JUST IN: At least 20 killed and wounded in suicide attack in Afghan capital #Kabul - interior ministry spokesman pic.twitter.com/GCUGNpE8Hb- Reuters Pakistan (@ReutersPakistan) January 4, 2018
Police officers at the scene said the bomber had been wearing police or army uniform and had approached a group of security personnel near where the controls on illegal drugs and alcohol had been carried out, but there was no official confirmation.
"Kabul police forces were there to prevent a possible protest when a suicide bomber approached them and detonated his suicide vest," Mujahid said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which happened days after a suicide bomber killed at least 41 people and wounded more than 80 at a Shi'ite cultural centre in Kabul, underlining the precarious security situation in the Afghan capital.
With inputs from Reuters
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