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5 Are Killed in Kabul as Taliban Target Election Offices Taliban Attack Stirs Security Concerns as Afghan Presidential Vote Nears
(35 minutes later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — With security concerns already mounting before the Afghan presidential vote next week, a Taliban assault team on Tuesday turned election offices in eastern Kabul into a scene of carnage, in a new and brutal statement of the group’s intent to derail the voting.KABUL, Afghanistan — With security concerns already mounting before the Afghan presidential vote next week, a Taliban assault team on Tuesday turned election offices in eastern Kabul into a scene of carnage, in a new and brutal statement of the group’s intent to derail the voting.
Bombers’ body parts and victims’ blood covered the street and courtyard where five Taliban militants blasted their way into the regional offices of the Independent Election Commission and waged a four-hour battle with Afghan security forces. Afterward, five victims lay dead and the Afghan capital had again been proved vulnerable.Bombers’ body parts and victims’ blood covered the street and courtyard where five Taliban militants blasted their way into the regional offices of the Independent Election Commission and waged a four-hour battle with Afghan security forces. Afterward, five victims lay dead and the Afghan capital had again been proved vulnerable.
The front of the elections building was a bombed-out shell, with bullets pockmarking the facade and the doors and windows blown off their hinges. Election workers who survived described hiding in empty rooms and the building’s basement as gunfire and explosions rocked the compound, which is just a stone’s throw from the home of a leading presidential candidate.The front of the elections building was a bombed-out shell, with bullets pockmarking the facade and the doors and windows blown off their hinges. Election workers who survived described hiding in empty rooms and the building’s basement as gunfire and explosions rocked the compound, which is just a stone’s throw from the home of a leading presidential candidate.
Two of the five attackers detonated explosive belts at the gate of the compound, while three others rushed in with assault rifles, the police said. Even as the attack was unfolding, the Taliban claimed responsibility, re-emphasizing their campaign to disrupt the April 5 election and punish those involved in it.Two of the five attackers detonated explosive belts at the gate of the compound, while three others rushed in with assault rifles, the police said. Even as the attack was unfolding, the Taliban claimed responsibility, re-emphasizing their campaign to disrupt the April 5 election and punish those involved in it.
The victims included two police officers and a provincial council candidate, officials said. At least eight other people were reported wounded.The victims included two police officers and a provincial council candidate, officials said. At least eight other people were reported wounded.
A spokesman for the Interior Ministry, Sediq Seddiqi, said that the police had responded quickly, rescuing more than 70 people trapped inside the compound before killing the remaining attackers. The compound is beside the home of a leading presidential candidate, Ashraf Ghani, who was not there at the time, officials said.A spokesman for the Interior Ministry, Sediq Seddiqi, said that the police had responded quickly, rescuing more than 70 people trapped inside the compound before killing the remaining attackers. The compound is beside the home of a leading presidential candidate, Ashraf Ghani, who was not there at the time, officials said.
“If the police did not respond in a timely manner, they could have massacred everyone,”Mr. Seddiqi said. “If the police did not respond in a timely manner, they could have massacred everyone,” Mr. Seddiqi said.
At the scene of the attack, it was hard to see how anyone survived. At the scene of the attack, it was hard to see how anyone had survived.
The smell of gas and explosives filled the air, and the ground was covered in glass and granules of concrete torn from the building. As journalists entered the compound, the police were carting off the mangled body of a bomber in the bed of a truck.The smell of gas and explosives filled the air, and the ground was covered in glass and granules of concrete torn from the building. As journalists entered the compound, the police were carting off the mangled body of a bomber in the bed of a truck.
A worker in the offices of the Independent Election Commission when the attack happened said that heavy gunfire began immediately after the initial blasts. Some workers were stuck in the basement during the attack, while others rushed from the corridor and locked themselves in rooms.A worker in the offices of the Independent Election Commission when the attack happened said that heavy gunfire began immediately after the initial blasts. Some workers were stuck in the basement during the attack, while others rushed from the corridor and locked themselves in rooms.
“Everyone was shouting; a woman was on the ground bleeding from a gunshot,” said the election worker, Khalil Usmani. “It was crazy, bullets and smoke. No one knew who anyone was.”“Everyone was shouting; a woman was on the ground bleeding from a gunshot,” said the election worker, Khalil Usmani. “It was crazy, bullets and smoke. No one knew who anyone was.”
After months of relative calm, Kabul has again been the scene of troubling attacks in recent weeks, stirring unease among Afghan and international officials here and raising questions about security for an election seen as critical to the country’s stability after the Western military pullout by year’s end.After months of relative calm, Kabul has again been the scene of troubling attacks in recent weeks, stirring unease among Afghan and international officials here and raising questions about security for an election seen as critical to the country’s stability after the Western military pullout by year’s end.
Officials hope that the Taliban’s campaign of violence will not be enough to intimidate voters from turning out. With three main contenders vying for a lead, observers also hope that the enhanced competition will bolster turnout compared with the 2009 election, when most Afghans assumed President Hamid Karzai would win and when widespread violence kept significant swaths of the population from voting.Officials hope that the Taliban’s campaign of violence will not be enough to intimidate voters from turning out. With three main contenders vying for a lead, observers also hope that the enhanced competition will bolster turnout compared with the 2009 election, when most Afghans assumed President Hamid Karzai would win and when widespread violence kept significant swaths of the population from voting.
Over the past 30 years, Afghans have seen wave after wave of war shatter their country. Those who endure fall back on a particularly grim and powerful strain of resilience that has come to be seen here as central to the Afghan character. Having survived the Soviet occupation, then the brutal civil war, then years of Taliban terrorist attacks, some shrug off the new round of political violence as unlikely to deter their push for self-determination.Over the past 30 years, Afghans have seen wave after wave of war shatter their country. Those who endure fall back on a particularly grim and powerful strain of resilience that has come to be seen here as central to the Afghan character. Having survived the Soviet occupation, then the brutal civil war, then years of Taliban terrorist attacks, some shrug off the new round of political violence as unlikely to deter their push for self-determination.
Among them was Nasir Ahmed, who stood Tuesday near the road to the election compound. “We will still go and participate in the election,” he said. “These attacks can’t stop us from casting our votes.”Among them was Nasir Ahmed, who stood Tuesday near the road to the election compound. “We will still go and participate in the election,” he said. “These attacks can’t stop us from casting our votes.”
But along with resilience, fear is on display here, too. The repeated shock and violation of these attacks take a toll on even the toughest.But along with resilience, fear is on display here, too. The repeated shock and violation of these attacks take a toll on even the toughest.
An old man who survived the attack stumbled past the crowd, assisted by two police officers who held him beneath his elbows. A few journalists asked what happened, then were stopped by the stark despondence on his face, and his quivering inability to form words. An old man who survived the attack stumbled past the crowd, assisted by two police officers who held him beneath his elbows. A few journalists asked what had happened, then were stopped by the stark despondence on his face, and his quivering inability to form words.
Another man, Farid, 22, said the drumbeat of attacks had finally made him rethink his decision to vote. The general insecurity, and a fear he might wind up a victim of a Taliban assault, have altered the hope he held for the coming election.Another man, Farid, 22, said the drumbeat of attacks had finally made him rethink his decision to vote. The general insecurity, and a fear he might wind up a victim of a Taliban assault, have altered the hope he held for the coming election.
“I won’t take part in the elections,” he said. “I wanted to vote, but all of these recent attacks have changed my mind.”“I won’t take part in the elections,” he said. “I wanted to vote, but all of these recent attacks have changed my mind.”