A suicide bombing near the headquarters of Afghanistan's National Security Directorate during the busy morning hours on Tuesday in Kabul left at least 28 dead and over 320 injured. This attack is the deadliest in the capital of Afghanistan since 2011. According to Reuters, Ashraf Ghani, the President of Afghanistan, condemned the attack in a statement from the presidential palace, which is only a few hundred meters away from the explosion site. Abdul Rahman Rahimi, the police chief of Kabul, stated that ordinary citizens and security forces are among the dead and injured from this explosion. He added that the incident was caused by the explosion of a suicide vehicle bomb behind the walls of the National Security Council. Mr. Rahimi noted that one of the attackers attempted to enter the 'Protection of Persons' building associated with the National Security Directorate through a wall damaged by the explosion but was tracked down and killed. The U.S. Embassy and NATO forces in Afghanistan stated that the attack was not directed at them. The Taliban, in a statement, claimed that the explosion of a suicide vehicle bomb opened the entrance door to the 'Protection of Persons' building, allowing their fighters to enter. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Taliban, also stated in a separate statement that the group's attackers engaged in a confrontation with security forces inside the building. Reuters reports that the Taliban often exaggerates the details of their attacks. Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, condemned the attack and stated that there is no justification for attacking civilians and security forces. According to the Associated Press, he called for international cooperation to combat extremism, adding that 'we must confront these terrorist attacks.' The suicide bombing on Tuesday, April 31, is the worst incident since an explosion in Kabul in 2011, during which 60 people were killed in a suicide attack on a mosque. Today's explosion has intensified concerns about the worsening security situation in Afghanistan. Reuters notes that since the withdrawal of international combat forces from Afghanistan in late 2014, the Taliban insurgents have strengthened their position and appear to be stronger than they were in 2001 when they were ousted by a U.S.-led coalition.
A Deadly Attack in the Capital of Afghanistan Leaves at Least 28 Dead
A suicide bombing in Kabul has killed at least 28 people and injured over 320, marking the deadliest attack in Afghanistan's capital since 2011. The Taliban claimed responsibility, stating that their fighters entered a security building following the explosion. This incident raises significant concerns about the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A suicide bombing in Kabul near the National Security Directorate killed at least 28 people and injured over 320, marking the deadliest attack in the capital since 2011. The Taliban claimed responsibility, stating their fighters engaged security forces following the explosion.
- The attack occurred during busy morning hours, causing significant civilian casualties.
- This incident raises alarms about the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan since the withdrawal of international forces.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Afghanistan has faced ongoing conflict and instability, particularly after the U.S. withdrawal in 2014, leading to a resurgence of the Taliban and other extremist groups.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%