Kabul suicide bombings: 25, including journalists, killed in twin attacks; Islamic State claims responsibility
At least 25 people, including journalists, were killed when two suicide blasts ripped through Kabul, police have confirmed
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At least 25 people, including journalists, were killed when two suicide blasts ripped through Kabul on Monday, police have confirmed. AP
The attacks, claimed by the Islamic State group, are the latest deadly assaults on the Afghan capital and have spurred an outpouring of grief among journalists, many of whom took to Twitter to post tributes to their colleagues. AP
The first blast came shortly before 8:00 am (03:30 local time) near the headquarters of the Afghan intelligence services, when a motorcyclist detonated his explosives, the interior ministry said. AP
Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai said the second explosion came minutes after the first, and targeted reporters at the scene. "The bomber disguised himself as a journalist and detonated himself among the crowd," he said. AP
The interior ministry confirmed the death toll and said six journalists were among those killed. It also said 49 people had been wounded, amid fears the death toll could rise. AP
The attack comes days after the Taliban kicked off their spring offensive in an apparent rejection of calls for the militants to take up the Afghan government's offer of peace talks. A security force and a civilian lie low at the site of the suicide attack. AP
A Taliban spokesman told AFP they were not involved in the attack. However, Western and Afghan officials suspect that the Taliban's Haqqani Network sometimes assists IS in carrying out attacks. AP