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Blast at Rally for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Kills at Least 26 Blast at Rally for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Kills at Least 26
(about 1 hour later)
A suicide bomber detonated an explosive outside a campaign rally for President Ashraf Ghani in northern Afghanistan on Tuesday, missing the president but killing at least 26 people and wounding at least 32, provincial officials said.A suicide bomber detonated an explosive outside a campaign rally for President Ashraf Ghani in northern Afghanistan on Tuesday, missing the president but killing at least 26 people and wounding at least 32, provincial officials said.
Mr. Ghani was inside a fortified compound at least a half-mile from the blast, which occurred near a police training center, according to the local police chief and the head of the provincial council in Parwan Province, about 35 miles north of Kabul.Mr. Ghani was inside a fortified compound at least a half-mile from the blast, which occurred near a police training center, according to the local police chief and the head of the provincial council in Parwan Province, about 35 miles north of Kabul.
The suicide bomber, who was on a motorcycle, detonated the bomb at 11:40 a.m. as people were lining up to undergo security checks at the first entry gate to the compound, said Wahida Shahkar, a spokesman for the provincial governor. Mr. Ghani had arrived earlier by helicopter, local officials said. The attacker, who was on a motorcycle, detonated the bomb at 11:40 a.m. as people were lining up to undergo security checks at the first entry gate to the compound, said Wahida Shahkar, a spokesman for the provincial governor. Mr. Ghani had arrived earlier by helicopter, local officials said.
The president had mostly been campaigning by videoconference ahead of the Sept. 28 presidential vote but made the short trip to Charikar, the provincial capital, for the rally.The president had mostly been campaigning by videoconference ahead of the Sept. 28 presidential vote but made the short trip to Charikar, the provincial capital, for the rally.
The election, delayed twice and then eclipsed by peace talks between the United States and the Taliban, has been under threat by the militants. Both before and since negotiations were declared dead by President Trump on Sept. 9, the Taliban have threatened to attack campaign rallies and polling sites — as they have in past elections.The election, delayed twice and then eclipsed by peace talks between the United States and the Taliban, has been under threat by the militants. Both before and since negotiations were declared dead by President Trump on Sept. 9, the Taliban have threatened to attack campaign rallies and polling sites — as they have in past elections.
A Taliban spokesman, Zabibullah Mujahid, said Tuesday that the group was responsible for the Parwan attack and for a separate bombing outside a Ministry of Defense facility in Kabul at midday on a road leading to the fortified United States Embassy compound. He said the Parwan attack was aimed at Afghan security forces who were providing security for the rally.A Taliban spokesman, Zabibullah Mujahid, said Tuesday that the group was responsible for the Parwan attack and for a separate bombing outside a Ministry of Defense facility in Kabul at midday on a road leading to the fortified United States Embassy compound. He said the Parwan attack was aimed at Afghan security forces who were providing security for the rally.
There were no immediate reports of casualties from the Kabul blast, which took place near the site of a suicide bomb blast Sept. 5 that killed 12 people, including one American and one Romanian soldier. Nasrat Rahimi, a spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, said that 20 people were killed and 38 wounded in the Kabul attack, which took place near the site of a suicide bomb blast on Sept. 5 that killed 12 people, including one American and one Romanian soldier.
Mr. Mujahid said the Taliban had warned Afghans not to attend campaign rallies or other election events, calling them “military targets” because they are protected by security forces. If civilians are killed or wounded at such gatherings, he said, they are responsible for putting themselves in harm’s way.Mr. Mujahid said the Taliban had warned Afghans not to attend campaign rallies or other election events, calling them “military targets” because they are protected by security forces. If civilians are killed or wounded at such gatherings, he said, they are responsible for putting themselves in harm’s way.
“We carried out this attack while a fake election rally was ongoing,” Mr. Mujahid said in a WhatsApp message.“We carried out this attack while a fake election rally was ongoing,” Mr. Mujahid said in a WhatsApp message.
The Sept. 5 attack in Kabul was cited by Mr. Trump as one reason for cutting off talks with the Taliban. The suspension of negotiations cleared the way for the presidential election, with campaigning beginning in earnest only recently.The Sept. 5 attack in Kabul was cited by Mr. Trump as one reason for cutting off talks with the Taliban. The suspension of negotiations cleared the way for the presidential election, with campaigning beginning in earnest only recently.
Well before the peace talks were suspended, Mr. Ghani’s first vice-presidential running mate, Amrullah Saleh, narrowly escaped a complex attack that included a car bomb and a half-dozen suicide bombers who penetrated his political headquarters in Kabul in July.Well before the peace talks were suspended, Mr. Ghani’s first vice-presidential running mate, Amrullah Saleh, narrowly escaped a complex attack that included a car bomb and a half-dozen suicide bombers who penetrated his political headquarters in Kabul in July.
In Parwan on Tuesday, video posted on social media appeared to show grieving men searching the wards of the provincial hospital for relatives killed or wounded in the bombing. At least one man lay dead on the floor, and other bodies were covered by sheets or blankets.In Parwan on Tuesday, video posted on social media appeared to show grieving men searching the wards of the provincial hospital for relatives killed or wounded in the bombing. At least one man lay dead on the floor, and other bodies were covered by sheets or blankets.
The authenticity of that video and others on social media could not be immediately verified.The authenticity of that video and others on social media could not be immediately verified.
Another social media video appeared to show a pickup truck with its rear bed loaded with corpses from the Parwan attack. Women and children were among those killed, said Dr. Abdul Qasum Sangin, director of the Parwan provincial hospital.Another social media video appeared to show a pickup truck with its rear bed loaded with corpses from the Parwan attack. Women and children were among those killed, said Dr. Abdul Qasum Sangin, director of the Parwan provincial hospital.
The two attacks came as Afghan security forces made final preparations to secure more than 5,300 voting sites being set up for the election, with 400 to 500 closed at the moment for security reasons. Parliamentary elections last year and the presidential election in 2014 were marred by violence and by allegations of corruption and incompetence.The two attacks came as Afghan security forces made final preparations to secure more than 5,300 voting sites being set up for the election, with 400 to 500 closed at the moment for security reasons. Parliamentary elections last year and the presidential election in 2014 were marred by violence and by allegations of corruption and incompetence.
“We are concerned about the security situation, and that is the biggest issue,” Abdul Aziz Ibrahimi, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s election commission, said as campaigning began to pick up last week. “We are in touch with Afghan security forces, and they are committed to provided election security.”“We are concerned about the security situation, and that is the biggest issue,” Abdul Aziz Ibrahimi, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s election commission, said as campaigning began to pick up last week. “We are in touch with Afghan security forces, and they are committed to provided election security.”
Security forces are also charged with protecting the 18 candidates on the ballot and their staffs, although several candidates have said they dropped out of the race.Security forces are also charged with protecting the 18 candidates on the ballot and their staffs, although several candidates have said they dropped out of the race.
The Afghan Army, police and national security agency are also battling Taliban fighters in various parts of the country, with government centers under attack in several northern provinces. Since the peace talks began late last year, both sides have escalated military operations.The Afghan Army, police and national security agency are also battling Taliban fighters in various parts of the country, with government centers under attack in several northern provinces. Since the peace talks began late last year, both sides have escalated military operations.
Since the talks were suspended, Mr. Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have said United States aircraft and Special Operations troops, in support of the Afghan government and military, have intensified attacks on the Taliban.Since the talks were suspended, Mr. Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have said United States aircraft and Special Operations troops, in support of the Afghan government and military, have intensified attacks on the Taliban.
At the same time, the militants have warned that they are ramping up their own operations and have threatened to kill more American troops.At the same time, the militants have warned that they are ramping up their own operations and have threatened to kill more American troops.
An American Special Forces soldier was killed in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, according to Defense Department officials. He was the 17th American service member to die during combat operations this year, the highest number of losses in a year since 2014, when the Pentagon announced the end of combat operations in Afghanistan. An American Special Forces soldier was killed in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, according to Defense Department officials. The soldier, Sgt. First Class Jeremy W. Griffin, 40, was the 17th American service member to die in combat operations this year, the highest number of losses in a year since 2014, when the Pentagon announced the end of combat operations in Afghanistan.