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Rocket attack on Afghan capital | Rocket attack on Afghan capital |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least five rockets have been fired into the Afghan capital, Kabul, injuring a child and causing some damage, Afghan officials say. | At least five rockets have been fired into the Afghan capital, Kabul, injuring a child and causing some damage, Afghan officials say. |
One of the rockets landed in the city's diplomatic area near the US embassy, they say. | One of the rockets landed in the city's diplomatic area near the US embassy, they say. |
Insurgent attacks have increased in the run-up to presidential elections due to take place in Afghanistan on 20 August. | Insurgent attacks have increased in the run-up to presidential elections due to take place in Afghanistan on 20 August. |
A bomb attack in the western Afghan city of Herat on Monday killed at least 12 people and injured more than 20. | A bomb attack in the western Afghan city of Herat on Monday killed at least 12 people and injured more than 20. |
Tuesday morning's rocket attacks took place near the east of the capital, towards the international airport and near some residential neighbourhoods, a report said. | Tuesday morning's rocket attacks took place near the east of the capital, towards the international airport and near some residential neighbourhoods, a report said. |
'Morale is high' | 'Morale is high' |
"It was very loud, just as we were praying," said Kabul resident Ismail Khan. | "It was very loud, just as we were praying," said Kabul resident Ismail Khan. |
Attacks have increased in the run-up to the presidential election | |
Another eyewitness Abdul Wali Zai said since the attacks took place early in the morning when the streets were empty, there had been no casualties. | Another eyewitness Abdul Wali Zai said since the attacks took place early in the morning when the streets were empty, there had been no casualties. |
He said that the attacks would not affect the city's residents ahead of the elections. | He said that the attacks would not affect the city's residents ahead of the elections. |
"Our morale is very high because it is close to the election," Mr Wali Zai said. | "Our morale is very high because it is close to the election," Mr Wali Zai said. |
Although nobody claimed responsibility for the attacks, Kabul's deputy police chief, Mohammad Khalil Dastyar, blamed Taliban fighters. | Although nobody claimed responsibility for the attacks, Kabul's deputy police chief, Mohammad Khalil Dastyar, blamed Taliban fighters. |
"They're just trying to sabotage and create tension in Kabul," Mr Dastyar told the Associated Press news agency. | "They're just trying to sabotage and create tension in Kabul," Mr Dastyar told the Associated Press news agency. |
An officer of the Afghan national army said that the rockets were of the long-range variety and could be fired from portable rocket launchers several miles from their target. | An officer of the Afghan national army said that the rockets were of the long-range variety and could be fired from portable rocket launchers several miles from their target. |
"The capital is closely guarded. They had to fire from far away," Major Ghulam Rasul said. | "The capital is closely guarded. They had to fire from far away," Major Ghulam Rasul said. |
The attacks come a day after the attack in Herat targeted a police convoy, killing and wounding both police and civilians. | The attacks come a day after the attack in Herat targeted a police convoy, killing and wounding both police and civilians. |
Last week the Taliban explicitly threatened to disrupt the elections. | Last week the Taliban explicitly threatened to disrupt the elections. |