A suicide bomber arrived in a vehicle full of explosives to the parking lot of the training ground for Afghan Intelligence unit, which is in charge of protecting government officials.
The explosion occurred on Tuesday 19th and according to reports made by CNN International, at least 28 people have died and over 300 are reported wounded, victims include women and children.
The attack: reasons and happening
The attack comes just after last week’s announcement that the Taliban assured they were going to escalate their attacks and measured against the Afghan government, assuring all means will be used against the enemy.
On Tuesday morning, the explosive vehicle reached the private parking lot just behind the location, the explosion destroyed the back wall of the building.
Afghan Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi told CNN International that after the first detonation a second attacker managed to enter the building and engaged in a gunbattle with the security forces inside the building. The second event happened just two hours after the first attack
The gun battle went on for three hours given the first explosion, security agents were also trapped under walls and ceilings that fell from the building.
Meanwhile, the Taliban group assured they were responsible for the tragedy while Afghanistan leaders say the attack is just a proof of the group’s weakness.
Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, the president of Afghanistan, stated on his Twitter account “Today’s terrorist attack near Pul-e-Mahmud Khan, #Kabul clearly shows the enemy’s defeat in face-to-face battle with ANSDF.
The attack occurred in a busy street of Kabul, close to the presidential palace, the Afghan Defense Ministry, and schools. Many witnesses have assured they heard the gunfire battle after the explosion.
The United States embassy issued a statement regarding the attack in where they assured “Afghanistan deserves peace and security, not attacks that victimize parents taking their children to school, workers on their morning commute and people who have stepped forward to help defend their fellow citizens. Said the embassy
The Afghan president had recently stated his hopes to begin peace talks with the terrorist group, but the tragedy puts this matter under pressure.
Source: CNN