April 2016 Kabul attack

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April 2016 Kabul attack
Part of War in Afghanistan (2001–present), Operation Omari
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Kabul
Kabul (Afghanistan)
Location Kabul, Afghanistan
Coordinates 34°33′19″N69°12′27″E / 34.5553°N 69.2075°E / 34.5553; 69.2075
Date19 April 2016
TargetGovernment employees
Attack type
Mass murder, suicide bombing
Weapons Bomb, guns
Deaths69 (62; 7)†
Injured367+ (347; 20+)†
PerpetratorsFlag of the Taliban.svg Taliban
† First number in brackets: primary attack
Second number in brackets: attack on broadcaster

On the morning of 19 April 2016, Taliban militants attacked a security team responsible for protecting government VIPs in Kabul, Afghanistan. The initial attack killed 64 people and wounded 347. It was their biggest attack on an urban area since 2001. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Bombings

Local broadcaster TOLOnews reported that the attack involved a suicide bomber detonating a vehicle laden with "hundreds of kilograms of explosives" and the militants then making their way into the compound of "Department 10" of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) [2] and opening fire. The bomb that detonated caused a ceiling to collapse in a classroom where elite intelligence officers were being trained. An Afghan security official said members of that unit accounted for about half of the people killed. [4] The local broadcast station said that a two-hour gun battle ensued between the militants and security forces. [5] [6]

Developments

Sediq Sediqi, a spokesman for the Afghani Interior Ministry, said that despite the target, most of the victims were civilians. [1] Ismail Kawasi, spokesman for the Public Health Ministry, said that 327 wounded have been brought to area hospitals. [1] On 20 April 2016, Sediqi confirmed in a tweet that 64 "innocent Afghans" were killed and 347 wounded. [7]

Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack. [6] He said as many as 92 security staff and soldiers were killed. [2] It came after the group announced its annual spring offensive Operation Omari. [6]

Reactions

Domestic

President Ashraf Ghani issued a statement saying that the attack proved that the Taliban were growing weak and therefore resorting to asymmetric warfare. [1] Shortly after the attack, women's rights activist Wazhma Frogh wrote on Twitter that the attacks took place near schools and that parents were attempting to protect their children. [6]

Some parliamentarians strongly condemned President Ashraf Ghani for failing to provide security from the terrorist attacks. [4]

International

Supranational unions

Countries

See also


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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Faiez, Rahim. "Dozens Killed in Taliban Attack on Afghan Security Agency". ABC News. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Smith, Josh (19 April 2016). "Afghan Taliban kill at least 28 in major attack in central Kabul". Reuters. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  3. Shereena Qazi; Al Jazeera & agencies (19 April 2016). "Suicide car bomber attacks heart of Afghanistan's Kabul". Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 Craig, Tim; Salahuddin, Sayed (20 April 2016). "As Kabul death toll rises, fears also boosted of more powerful Taliban bombs". The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  5. 1 2 Onyanga-Omara, Jane. "Officials: At least 28 dead, over 300 wounded in Kabul attack". USA Today. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Michael Pearson; Masoud Popalzai & Zahra Ullah. "Dozens die in Afghanistan as Taliban attack". CNN. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  7. "Afghanistan attack: Kabul suicide blast deaths rise to 64 - BBC News". BBC News. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  8. 1 2 "The Latest: UN Security Council condemns Taliban attack". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 19 April 2016. ISSN   0190-8286. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  9. "PM Narendra Modi condemns terror attack in Kabul". The Economic Times . Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  10. "Modi condemns Kabul blast". Business Standard . Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  11. "Press Release Regarding the Suicide Attack Perpetrated in Kabul". mfa.gov.tr/. TR Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 16 July 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.