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Afghanistan war: Taliban bombs election rally and Kabul square | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Two separate suicide attacks in Afghanistan have killed at least 48 people and injured dozens others. | |
In Parwan province, north of the capital Kabul, an election rally where President Ashraf Ghani was due to speak was attacked, and 26 people died. | |
Another blast, near the US embassy in central Kabul, killed 22 people. | |
The Taliban said they were behind both attacks. The group has continued a concerted bombing campaign while at the same time taking part in peace talks. | The Taliban said they were behind both attacks. The group has continued a concerted bombing campaign while at the same time taking part in peace talks. |
But US President Donald Trump described the negotiations with the Taliban as "dead" earlier this month. | But US President Donald Trump described the negotiations with the Taliban as "dead" earlier this month. |
The Taliban refuse to talk to the Afghan government and have vowed to disrupt the presidential election in the country on 28 September. | The Taliban refuse to talk to the Afghan government and have vowed to disrupt the presidential election in the country on 28 September. |
What is known about the explosions? | What is known about the explosions? |
Forty-two people are reported to have been injured in the election rally blast in Charikar, the capital of Parwan province, at 11:40 local time (07:10 GMT). | |
Children were among the casualties, medical staff said. The bomber, on a motorbike, triggered the blast at a checkpoint at the venue. | Children were among the casualties, medical staff said. The bomber, on a motorbike, triggered the blast at a checkpoint at the venue. |
President Ghani, who hopes for a second five-year term, was not hurt. | |
Another suicide bomber targeted Kabul's busy Massood Square, the site of government ministries and Nato compounds, at 13:00 local time. | |
An additional 38 people were injured there, according to the Ministry of Interior Affairs. | |
What is the security situation in Afghanistan? | What is the security situation in Afghanistan? |
An average of 74 people were killed every day in the country in August, according to data collected by the BBC. | An average of 74 people were killed every day in the country in August, according to data collected by the BBC. |
Most of the casualties were those involved in combat, such as Taliban fighters, but a fifth were civilians, including children. | Most of the casualties were those involved in combat, such as Taliban fighters, but a fifth were civilians, including children. |
The worst day for civilians was 18 August, when 112 were killed, including 92 at a wedding in Kabul. | The worst day for civilians was 18 August, when 112 were killed, including 92 at a wedding in Kabul. |
The Taliban are estimated to be openly active across 70% of Afghanistan. | The Taliban are estimated to be openly active across 70% of Afghanistan. |
In June 2019, the country was named the least peaceful place in the world by the Global Peace Index report. | In June 2019, the country was named the least peaceful place in the world by the Global Peace Index report. |