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Suicide Bomber Kills at Least 16 in Northern Afghanistan Suicide Bomber Kills at Least 16 in Northern Afghanistan
(about 5 hours later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber in northern Afghanistan killed at least 16 people and wounded dozens more by detonating a rickshaw filled with explosives in a bazaar Tuesday morning, the latest major attack in the lead-up to presidential elections early next month. KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber in northern Afghanistan detonated explosives packed into a rickshaw Tuesday morning, killing at least 16 people at a bazaar in the latest major attack ahead of presidential elections early next month.
The intended target of the attack, which occurred in Maimana, the capital of Faryab Province, was unclear, and by afternoon the Taliban had not claimed responsibility for it. By afternoon the Taliban had not claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred in the capital of restive Faryab Province, on Afghanistan’s northwest border with Turkmenistan.
“The target of the attacker was obviously innocent civilians,” said Abdul Satar Barez, deputy provincial governor of Faryab. Some officials suggested that the bombing had been was meant to sow fear before the elections, to discourage people from voting or gathering for campaign rallies.
Other officials suggested that the bombing was meant to sow fear before the elections, to discourage people from voting or gathering for campaign rallies.
“We believe today’s bombing was part of efforts to scare people,” said Naqibullah Fayeq, a member of Parliament from Faryab. “Today’s attack had only election motives.”“We believe today’s bombing was part of efforts to scare people,” said Naqibullah Fayeq, a member of Parliament from Faryab. “Today’s attack had only election motives.”
Toryali Abdeyali, Faryab’s police chief, said there were early indications that the nearby provincial Police Headquarters was the intended target. “We found an Afghan passport with an application letter in the attacker’s pocket,” he said. “The letter was addressed to police authorities for a passport extension.” Toryali Abdeyali, Faryab’s police chief, said there were early indications that the nearby provincial Police Headquarters had been the intended target. “We found an Afghan passport with an application letter in the attacker’s pocket,” he said. “The letter was addressed to police authorities for a passport extension.”
Mr. Abdeyali said 16 people were killed, not including the bomber. Mr. Abdeyali said 16 people had been killed, plus the bomber.
Faryab, located on Afghanistan’s northwest border with Turkmenistan, is a restive region, with insurgents and ordinary criminals alike frequently staging attacks along highways and in certain districts. Officials consider three of the province’s 14 districts to be high-threat areas. Faryab has gained a reputation as one of the deadliest provinces in Afghanistan’s north, which overall is less violent than the Taliban-controlled south and east. Three of the province’s 14 districts are considered high-threat areas, and insurgents and ordinary criminals frequently stage attacks along highways.
The province has gained a reputation as one of the deadliest in Afghanistan’s north, which overall is less violent than the Taliban-controlled south and east. The last large-scale attack in Faryab occurred in late 2012, when a Taliban suicide bombing outside a mosque in Maimana killed more than 45 people and wounded at least 60. The last large-scale attack in Faryab was also in the capital, Maimana. It occurred in late 2012, when a Taliban suicide bombing outside a mosque killed more than 45 people and wounded at least 60.
Ahead of the elections, which are scheduled for April 5, Afghan security forces have been taking pains to coordinate security and ensure that polling stations across the country can remain open for the vote. Such efforts have not always gone smoothly, often due to poor communication between police and army leaders.Ahead of the elections, which are scheduled for April 5, Afghan security forces have been taking pains to coordinate security and ensure that polling stations across the country can remain open for the vote. Such efforts have not always gone smoothly, often due to poor communication between police and army leaders.
The Taliban have vowed to violently disrupt the elections, which are expected to result in the first democratic transition of power in Afghanistan’s history.The Taliban have vowed to violently disrupt the elections, which are expected to result in the first democratic transition of power in Afghanistan’s history.
“We have taken all measures and put our utmost efforts to provide security in this province as we approach Election Day,” Mr. Abdeyali said. “The enemy always uses security gaps to carry out their destructive attacks and kill Afghans.”“We have taken all measures and put our utmost efforts to provide security in this province as we approach Election Day,” Mr. Abdeyali said. “The enemy always uses security gaps to carry out their destructive attacks and kill Afghans.”
While police officials said they considered the security situation in Faryab to be manageable, others cast doubt on the government’s ability to contain the insurgency there ahead of the elections.While police officials said they considered the security situation in Faryab to be manageable, others cast doubt on the government’s ability to contain the insurgency there ahead of the elections.
Mr. Fayeq, the member of Parliament, said he recently visited the province and felt that security was deteriorating. “The Taliban still control vast areas and they are able to plant improvised explosive devices along the highways,” he said.Mr. Fayeq, the member of Parliament, said he recently visited the province and felt that security was deteriorating. “The Taliban still control vast areas and they are able to plant improvised explosive devices along the highways,” he said.
More specifically, he said that during briefings he was told of at least five attacks planned for the province, two of which were thwarted and the third of which was Tuesday’s in the bazaar.More specifically, he said that during briefings he was told of at least five attacks planned for the province, two of which were thwarted and the third of which was Tuesday’s in the bazaar.
“There are still threats of two other attacks happening,” he said.“There are still threats of two other attacks happening,” he said.
Mr. Fayeq remained adamant, however, that the violence would not keep the citizens of the province from voting on Election Day.Mr. Fayeq remained adamant, however, that the violence would not keep the citizens of the province from voting on Election Day.
“Today’s killings will never stop the people of Faryab from casting their votes,” he said. “People understand that the only way to free themselves from this government is the election.”“Today’s killings will never stop the people of Faryab from casting their votes,” he said. “People understand that the only way to free themselves from this government is the election.”