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Blast Apparently Aimed at an Afghan Politician Kills 3 in Kabul | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
KABUL, Afghanistan — An explosion heard across Kabul on Tuesday morning appeared aimed at killing a prominent ethnic Hazara politician as he was traveling in his armored convoy. The politician survived but at least three civilians were killed, according to the Kabul police. | KABUL, Afghanistan — An explosion heard across Kabul on Tuesday morning appeared aimed at killing a prominent ethnic Hazara politician as he was traveling in his armored convoy. The politician survived but at least three civilians were killed, according to the Kabul police. |
The attack happened as the American-led NATO coalition prepared to officially shift responsibility for all security in Afghanistan to government forces in a ceremony on the outskirts of the capital on Tuesday. | The attack happened as the American-led NATO coalition prepared to officially shift responsibility for all security in Afghanistan to government forces in a ceremony on the outskirts of the capital on Tuesday. |
The politician who was the apparent target of the attack, Hajji Mohammed Mohaqeq, is a leader of one of the two main Hazara political factions. The Hazaras are an ethnic minority who follow the Shiite branch of Islam. | The politician who was the apparent target of the attack, Hajji Mohammed Mohaqeq, is a leader of one of the two main Hazara political factions. The Hazaras are an ethnic minority who follow the Shiite branch of Islam. |
Mr. Mohaqeq’s convoy had just driven past the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission office on the west side of the capital when his three-vehicle convoy was hit by the explosion. | Mr. Mohaqeq’s convoy had just driven past the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission office on the west side of the capital when his three-vehicle convoy was hit by the explosion. |
“I was riding in my vehicle together with my escort, my security guards, when a huge explosion took place,” Mr. Mohaqeq said. “All the windshields, doors and the vehicle was completely destroyed. I saw black smoke and flames and nothing could be seen. Thank God — I don’t know how I survived.” | “I was riding in my vehicle together with my escort, my security guards, when a huge explosion took place,” Mr. Mohaqeq said. “All the windshields, doors and the vehicle was completely destroyed. I saw black smoke and flames and nothing could be seen. Thank God — I don’t know how I survived.” |
Four of his security guards were wounded, he said. | Four of his security guards were wounded, he said. |
The head of Kabul’s criminal investigations division, Gen. Mohammed Zahir, said the police believed that the cause of the explosion was a roadside improvised explosive device that was aimed at killing Mr. Mohaqeq. | The head of Kabul’s criminal investigations division, Gen. Mohammed Zahir, said the police believed that the cause of the explosion was a roadside improvised explosive device that was aimed at killing Mr. Mohaqeq. |
He said the blast injured 30 people, including Mr. Mohaqeq’s security guards. | He said the blast injured 30 people, including Mr. Mohaqeq’s security guards. |
While such roadside bombs are commonly used by insurgents in Afghanistan, there have been relatively few such bombings inside Kabul, a heavily populated city, because it is hard to bury or hide them without passers-by noticing. Most Kabul attacks have involved suicide bombers and gunmen. | While such roadside bombs are commonly used by insurgents in Afghanistan, there have been relatively few such bombings inside Kabul, a heavily populated city, because it is hard to bury or hide them without passers-by noticing. Most Kabul attacks have involved suicide bombers and gunmen. |