Taliban bombing kills 14, injures 145 in Afghanistan’s capital


A massive car bombing has killed at least 14 people and injured 145 more in capital Kabul, an attack that was claimed by the Taliban to show the militant group is not planning to stop its violent attacks despite ongoing peace talks with the United States.

The car bomb exploded near the gates of a police station in western Kabul during morning peak hours on Wednesday, interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told reporters.

The explosion was so strong that it sent a large plume of smoke over Kabul and shattered windows far away.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which came amid surging violence across the country even as US and the Taliban negotiate a peace deal ahead of elections planned for September 28.

Immediately after the explosion, Wahidullah Mayar, the Afghan health ministry spokesman said at least 95 people, including women and children, had been taken to hospital.

Footage posted on social media showed that the blast was followed by limited gunfire, as is common with terrorist attacks that involve a suicide bomber. The shooting is aimed at increasing the casualties by killing people who gather at the scene of the blast.

As a result of the growing violence in Afghanistan, over 1,500 civilians were killed or wounded in the country in July alone, data by the United Nations show. That is the highest monthly toll this year and the worst single month since May 2017.


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