Kabul: At least 24 die in attack on Shiite district

A car filled with explosives ploughs into a ministerial bus. The number of victims, mostly civilians, could rise.

Kabul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - At least 24 people have died  and 42 have been wounded in a  suicide bombings this morning in Kabul's Shiite district in the west of the city. The explosion took place at 7 am local time when a car filled with explosives crashed into a small ministry bus. The vehicle was destroyed, along with three cars and some shops in the area.

According to the Interior Ministry, the number of deaths may rise. It appears that the victims are civilians, including students heading to the university during a period of examinations. They also include security guards at the service of one of the main leaders of the Hazara community, parliamentarian Mohammad Mohaqeq. There are also children among the injured.

In a tweet, the Taliban claim to have attacked a bus carrying "NDS members" (secret services). But it is unclear whether responsibility is attributable to them or the Islamic State.

The neighborhood is known to be "lively". The hazara community, a minority of about 3 million, discriminated and marginalized in the country, is one of the most open, especially with regard to women's rights. Today the Hazari had organized a commemoration for the anniversary of the attack on their demonstration on July 23, 2016, in which 84 people died and more than 300 injured. It was the first assassination claimed by the Islamic State in the heart of the Afghan capital.

This is the latest episode of violence in Afghanistan, where at least 1,662 civilians were killed  in the first half of the year alone. The escalation coincides with the US proposal to intensify its presence by sending more troops to the training mission and advisers in support of Afghan forces.

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