Over 100 killed, 235 wounded in ‘ambulance bomb’ attack in Afghan capital

Admin Mon 29 Jan 2018, 10:37 pm

Over 100 killed, 235 wounded in ‘ambulance bomb’ attack in Afghan capital
January 28, 2018
https://www.conservativeinstitute.org/islam/islamic-terrorism/ambulance-bomb-attack-afghan.htm?utm_source=aimtell&utm_campaign=automated_push&utm_medium=push
Over 100 killed, 235 wounded in ‘ambulance bomb’ attack in Afghan capital
ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.com
The Afghanistan government declared Sunday a day of mourning in the wake of a Saturday attack by a Taliban suicide bomber.

The militant used an ambulance to kill more than 100 and wound more than double that in the heart of the capital city of Kabul.

Among the 235 injured were 30 police officers, according to Kabul police chief Basir Mojahid.

Ambulance used to disguise intent
In light of other recent attacks, security had been beefed up in the capital city, but the first responder vehicle used in the attack was allowed through a routine security checkpoint, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi.

Fox 2 St. Louis reported:

Police identified the attacker at a second checkpoint, Rahimi said, but couldn’t stop him before he detonated the explosives in a central area near the old Interior Ministry building, a hospital and diplomatic buildings.

At latest count, the bombing killed 103.

Endless terror
Saturday’s attack comes just one week after militants took over an upscale Kabul hotel and killed scores of people in a 12-hour siege.

Reuters reported:

Another six people were killed [recently] in an assault claimed by Islamic State on the office of aid group Save the Children in the eastern city of Jalalabad.

Despite pressure on President Ashraf Ghani’s Western-backed government to improve security, the attacks show no sign of abating, giving rise to helpless anger among residents.

“How are we to live?” asked shopkeeper Mohammad Hanif, who was at his business near the site of Saturday’s explosion during the attack. “Where should we go?”

Days of remembrance
In addition to Sunday’s declared day of mourning, Afghan presidential spokesman Shah Hussain Murtazawi announced that Monday would be a declared holiday across the country, and Tuesday will be set aside as a nationwide day of prayer for the victims. Flags were also ordered to be flown at half-mast nationwide.

The Afghan government has called the attack “a crime against humanity,” and condemned neighboring Pakistan for harboring militants.

Although Pakistan denies providing aid to terrorists, the United States cut aid to Pakistan this month for its failure to take action against militant networks operating within the country.

The international community has widely condemned the Kabul attack. The International Committee of the Red Cross said the use of an ambulance to wage widespread death and destruction was “harrowing,” and the BBC reported:

U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the attack and said it “renews our resolve and that of our Afghan partners.”

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said: “Indiscriminate attacks against civilians are a serious violation of human rights and humanitarian laws, and can never be justified.”

In France, the Eiffel Tower turned off its lights at midnight on Saturday as a mark of respect for the dead and injured.

Sunday’s day of mourning extends beyond Afghanistan’s borders — it is felt throughout the world. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this act of terrorism and their families.