The number of Afghans killed or wounded in suicide attacks soared 46 percent in the first nine months of 2018, the United Nations said Sunday, as militants increasingly target civilians. Suicide bombs caused 2,343 civilian casualties, more than any other tactic, including ground fighting, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in a special report on the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the Afghan conflict. Civilian casualties from all types of IEDs, including suicide bombs and pressure-plate mines, rose 21 percent from a year earlier to 3,634. UNAMA warned the increasing number of "deliberate and indiscriminate attacks" against civilians constituted "serious violations of international humanitarian law" that could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. "The unpredictable nature of these types of attacks, often away from the fighting and in civilian populated areas, has caused ordinary Afghans to live in fear of the next explosion, severely curtailing … [Read more...] about Afghan civilian casualties from suicide attacks soar: UN
Afghanistan suicide attack
At least 19 killed in suicide attack on Afghan protesters
A suicide attack on protesters in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday killed at least 19 people, officials said, as an uptick in violence across the country dampens hopes for peace talks and elections. Another 57 people were wounded in the blast in Nangarhar province, where demonstrators had blocked a highway in protest over the appointment of a local police chief, provincial governor spokesman Ataullah Khogyani said. Provincial health department spokesman Inamullah Miakhil confirmed the number of dead and wounded. "Dozens of wounded people have been brought to Jalalabad hospitals so far," Miakhil added. The attack came hours after a double bombing in front of a girls' school in the provincial capital Jalalabad, which killed a boy and wounded four others. The first explosion happened in front of Malika Omaira girls' school at around 8:30 am (0400 GMT), Khogyani told AFP earlier. A second bomb went off as students from a neighbouring boys' school and locals gathered at the scene, he … [Read more...] about At least 19 killed in suicide attack on Afghan protesters
Kabul suicide attack death toll rises to 23: Health official
The death toll from a suicide attack near Kabul international airport has risen to 23, the health ministry said Monday, with an AFP driver among the dead. At least 107 others were wounded in Sunday's powerful explosion, which happened as scores of people were leaving the airport after welcoming home Afghan Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum from exile AFP/NOORULLAH SHIRZADA The death toll from a suicide attack near Kabul international airport has risen to 23, the health ministry said Monday (Jul 23), with an AFP driver among the dead. At least 107 others were wounded in Sunday's powerful explosion, which happened as scores of people were leaving the airport after welcoming home Afghan Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum from exile. The health ministry warned the latest toll, which initially had been 14 dead and 60 wounded, could change. AFP driver Mohammad Akhtar, 31, was among those killed when the suicide bomber blew himself up. The father of four had been on his way to work … [Read more...] about Kabul suicide attack death toll rises to 23: Health official
Suicide attack at Kabul airport leaves 14 dead, 60 wounded
Afghan security forces stand near bodies of victims following a suicide attack in Kabul. (NOORULLAH SHIRZADA/AFP) Senior government officials, political leaders and supporters were leaving the airport after greeting the powerful ethnic Uzbek leader and former warlord when the explosion happened. "This is the first time I have seen a suicide attack," one witness told AFP. "People were collecting human flesh with their hands," he said, shaking as he spoke. "What is going on in Afghanistan?" Dostum, clad in a Western suit and sunglasses and travelling in an armoured vehicle, was unharmed, said his spokesman Bashir Ahmad Tayanj. Kabul Police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai said 14 people had been killed and 60 wounded, adding that nine members of the security forces and traffic police were among the dead. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack through its official Amaq news agency late Saturday, according to the SITE intelligence monitoring group. The suicide bomber … [Read more...] about Suicide attack at Kabul airport leaves 14 dead, 60 wounded
Gunmen attack Kabul military academy: security sources
Some of the attackers at the Marshal Fahim Military Academy have been killed, an Afghan security source said, in the third major attack in the city in just over a week.At least four attackers were still involved in an intense gun battle with security forces, the source said, adding the gunmen had not managed to enter the heavily fortified academy.Three soldiers have been wounded, defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said."One bomber detonated himself and the rest of the attackers are resisting.They are under siege by our forces," Waziri added.Witnesses told AFP they heard several explosions and gunfire at around 5am (0030 GMT) at the academy on the outskirts of Kabul where high-ranking military officers are trained.An AFP reporter at the scene said he could "hear explosions". Security forces have swarmed the area and blocked the road leading to the academy.An officer inside the academy’s compound said he heard an explosion followed by an exchange of gunfire.Kabul police … [Read more...] about Gunmen attack Kabul military academy: security sources