A suicide bomb attack in the Afghan capital on Thursday near a gathering of supporters of an influential regional leader killed at least nine people and wounded many, the interior ministry said. It was not clear if the politician, Atta Mohammad Noor, governor of the northern province of Balkh and a leader of the mainly ethnic Tajik Jamiat-i-Islami party, was at the meeting at the time of the attack. Islamic State claimed responsibility, according to Amaq, its official news agency. The Taliban denied involvement.
An Afghan journalist is treated at a hospital after the attack. Pic/afp
"We are proud to be martyred because of our country and our rights. This gathering was for the sake of our country to raise our voice," said witness Jan Mohammad. A spokesman for the interior ministry said the bomber approached the hotel hosting the gathering in the Khair Khana district of Kabul, on foot. The dead included seven policemen and two civilians.
7 No. of cops killed
2 No. of civilians killed