Daesh claims suicide attack that killed at least 12 in Kabul
BLAST OCCURRED AT THE MAIN GATE OF THE MINISTRY OF RURAL REHABILITATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Elsewhere, militants raided a government building in the city of Jalalabad, prompting terrified employees to jump out of the windows, officials said.
At least 12 people were killed and 31 wounded when a suicide attacker blew himself up among government ministry employees in Kabul who had left work early for Ramadan and were waiting to take a bus home, officials said.
The Daesh group claimed responsibility for the latest attack in the Afghan capital, which comes a day before the government’s ceasefire with the Taliban is expected to start.
The blast occurred at the main gate of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, police and health ministry spokesmen told journalists.
Employees were gathered at the entrance of the compound waiting for a bus to take them home when the suicide bomber blew himself up in the crowd, said rural ministry spokesman Faridoon Azhand, who was inside the building at the time.
“I was in my office when I heard a big blast,” another employee said.
“Most of my colleagues were leaving for the day to go home. I am worried about my colleagues. We are told to stay inside for now.”
Government building raided
Police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai confirmed the attacker had targeted the employees as they waited for the bus at around 1pm (0830 GMT).
Daesh claimed the attack via their Amaq propaganda agency.
The attack was just one of several around Afghanistan yesterday. Elsewhere, militants raided a government building in the eastern city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, prompting terrified employees to jump out of the windows, officials said.
A suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance to the education department, triggering a fierce battle between gunmen and Afghan security forces, Nangarhar provincial governor spokesman Attaullah Khogyani said. At least 10 people were wounded, city health department director Najibullah Kamawal said.
In another incident, an explosion inside a house in Kabul killed one person and wounded three others, Stanikzai said.
The three wounded were detained after police found explosives, including suicide vests, in the building they suspect was being used by militants planning attacks in the city.
Taliban and Daesh militants have stepped up their attacks on Kabul in particular in recent years, making it the deadliest place in the country for civilians.