5 people killed in Afghan bombings
KABUL, Afghanistan — Three sticky-bomb attacks in the Afghan capital on Saturday killed at least five people and wounded two others, a police official said, amid a surge in violence in the war-torn country.
Kabul police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz said two explosions caused by sticky bombs attached to vehicles took place 15 minutes apart, and a third targeting a police vehicle exploded about two hours later.
No group immediately claimed responsibility.
The majority of bomb attacks in the capital in recent months have been sticky bombs — explosive devices with magnets that are attached to vehicles and detonated by remote control or timer.
The first blast targeted a civilian car, wounding both travelers inside the vehicle. The second explosion targeted a car in a northwestern Kabul neighborhood in which national army soldiers were traveling, killing two soldiers. A civilian passerby was also killed.
The third explosion destroyed a police car in western Kabul, killing two police officers.
Kabul police said investigations were underway.
The Islamic State’s local affiliate has claimed responsibility for some attacks, but many go unclaimed, with the government putting the blame on the Taliban. The insurgents have denied responsibility for most attacks carried out recently.
Afghanistan has seen a nationwide spike in bombings, targeted killings and violence on the battlefield as peace negotiations in Qatar between the Taliban and the Afghan government have stalled.