The
death toll rose to at least 57 after a suicide bomber unleashed an
attack Sunday at an Afghan voter registration center in mostly poor area
of Kabul. An Islamic State affiliate claimed responsibility for the
massacre.
Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh told Pajhwok Afghan News the dead included 21 women and five children. He said 119 people were injured in the attack.
Abdullah Abdullah, the nation's chief executive, condemned the attack in the Dasht-i-Barchi neighborhood.
"I stand
with those affected by this coward attack," he tweeted. "Our resolve
for fair and transparent election will continue, and terrorists won't
win against the will of the Afghan people."
Police
Spokesman Hashmatullah Stanikzai said the bomber targeted civilians who
had gathered to register and obtain ID cards. Elections are schedule for
October.
The explosion, heard across much of
the city, damaged several nearby vehicles and shattered windows miles
away. Police blocked all roads leading to the site, with only ambulances
allowed in. Witness Bashir Ahmad told Al Jazeera he heard a bang and rushed to the site of the blast.
"When I arrived at the scene, we helped many wounded people by carrying them to hospital," he said.
It
was the fourth attack on an Afghan voter registration center in less
than a week, authorities said. On Friday, militants attacked a center
and killed a security officer in Qala-e-Naw, in Badghis province.
On
Thursday, armed men attacked two police officers in Jalalabad City who
were guarding a voter registration center. And on Tuesday, militants
attacked a center in Ghor province, kidnapping three election officials
and two police officers.
The U.S. and NATO ended
their formal combat mission in Afghanistan more than three years ago.
Insurgents have made strides in undermining government security
forces in recent months. The increasing violence has cast doubt on
whether secure elections can be held in the fall.
Afghan
President Ashraf Ghani ordered government agencies to provide aid to
the victims of the "heinous terrorist attacks" Sunday in Kabul and,
about two hours later, in Pul-e-Khumri, where at least five people were
killed by a roadside bomb.
He stressed that the attacks won't derail the democratic process.
"I
wish Allah’s mercy upon those who martyred, speedy recovery to the
wounded, and convey my deep condolences to victims’ families," Ghani
said.
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