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| Suicide bombings kill at least 17 in Afghanistan | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| KABUL — A group of Taliban insurgents, including two suicide bombers, stormed an office of the election commission in the Afghan capital Tuesday, killing six people, around the same time as two other suicide bombers killed six members of the Afghan security forces in an eastern province. | KABUL — A group of Taliban insurgents, including two suicide bombers, stormed an office of the election commission in the Afghan capital Tuesday, killing six people, around the same time as two other suicide bombers killed six members of the Afghan security forces in an eastern province. |
| In a third attack in Afghanistan on Tuesday, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest during an athletic competition, killing five people. | In a third attack in Afghanistan on Tuesday, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest during an athletic competition, killing five people. |
| The attacks come less than two weeks before a crucial presidential vote which the militants have threatened to derail. | The attacks come less than two weeks before a crucial presidential vote which the militants have threatened to derail. |
| Seven Taliban fighters attacked a key building used by Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission in southwestern Kabul for several hours. A group of government workers were trapped inside it, according to the deputy interior minister, Ayoub Salangi. | Seven Taliban fighters attacked a key building used by Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission in southwestern Kabul for several hours. A group of government workers were trapped inside it, according to the deputy interior minister, Ayoub Salangi. |
| “We had only two police officers who lost their lives in the initial explosion caused by one of the suicide bombers,” Salangi said over the phone from the scene after the attack. | “We had only two police officers who lost their lives in the initial explosion caused by one of the suicide bombers,” Salangi said over the phone from the scene after the attack. |
| Sediq Seddiqi, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said two civilians, an official of the election commission and a candidate for the provincial council were also killed in the Kabul attack. He said the toll was not final and the number of casualties may rise. | Sediq Seddiqi, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said two civilians, an official of the election commission and a candidate for the provincial council were also killed in the Kabul attack. He said the toll was not final and the number of casualties may rise. |
| Salangi said the group of employees trapped inside were freed safely. Security forces sealed off various roads leading to the elections office. | Salangi said the group of employees trapped inside were freed safely. Security forces sealed off various roads leading to the elections office. |
| In eastern Kunar province, two suicide bombers killed at least six members of the Afghan security forces, who were waiting in line to receive their salaries at the New Kabul Bank, Kunar’s provincial governor, Shuja Ulmulk Jalala, said by phone. | In eastern Kunar province, two suicide bombers killed at least six members of the Afghan security forces, who were waiting in line to receive their salaries at the New Kabul Bank, Kunar’s provincial governor, Shuja Ulmulk Jalala, said by phone. |
| “Although it was a big tragedy due to the loss of our security forces, we were lucky that there were not more casualties, given that the two bombers blew themselves up inside the bank,” he said. | “Although it was a big tragedy due to the loss of our security forces, we were lucky that there were not more casualties, given that the two bombers blew themselves up inside the bank,” he said. |
| The bombers clashed for nearly two hours with bank guards and security forces who had been sent to the site before the attackers themselves up, he added. | The bombers clashed for nearly two hours with bank guards and security forces who had been sent to the site before the attackers themselves up, he added. |
| Separately on Tuesday, a suicide bomber blew himself up near a group of people playing a polo-type sport called buzkashi. That attack occurred in northern Kunduz province, an official said. | Separately on Tuesday, a suicide bomber blew himself up near a group of people playing a polo-type sport called buzkashi. That attack occurred in northern Kunduz province, an official said. |
| Five people were killed, and the target appeared to have been a local former mujahideen commander who survived the attack, he said. | Five people were killed, and the target appeared to have been a local former mujahideen commander who survived the attack, he said. |
| The attacks underscore the danger in the days leading up to the April 5 election and Taliban’s apparent resources. Some worry the attacks could deter voters from participating in the first peaceful hand over of power in modern Afghan history. | The attacks underscore the danger in the days leading up to the April 5 election and Taliban’s apparent resources. Some worry the attacks could deter voters from participating in the first peaceful hand over of power in modern Afghan history. |
| The Taliban has threatened to target any person or event linked to the elections, in which Afghans are to choose their next president and local provincial council members, and in a statement ordered people not to vote in the “sham elections,” saying voters will have to accept violent consequences. The Taliban claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s Kabul and Kunar attacks. | The Taliban has threatened to target any person or event linked to the elections, in which Afghans are to choose their next president and local provincial council members, and in a statement ordered people not to vote in the “sham elections,” saying voters will have to accept violent consequences. The Taliban claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s Kabul and Kunar attacks. |
| A spokesman for the National Directorate of Security, Lutfullah Mashal, said Tuesday that the mainstream Taliban as well as two newly formed militant groups were planning to hit “soft targets.” Mashal added that Afghan security forces were well prepared to prevent attacks against both “soft and hard targets,” referring to unfortified locations occupied mostly by civilians as well as sites defended by security forces. | A spokesman for the National Directorate of Security, Lutfullah Mashal, said Tuesday that the mainstream Taliban as well as two newly formed militant groups were planning to hit “soft targets.” Mashal added that Afghan security forces were well prepared to prevent attacks against both “soft and hard targets,” referring to unfortified locations occupied mostly by civilians as well as sites defended by security forces. |
| In the past 10 days, dozens of people, including police officers and four expatriates, have been killed in various attacks by militants in Afghanistan. | In the past 10 days, dozens of people, including police officers and four expatriates, have been killed in various attacks by militants in Afghanistan. |
| The four foreigners, one an election observer from Paraguay, were gunned down in Kabul’s supposedly highly secure Serena Hotel on Thursday evening. At least five Afghans also lost their lives in the hotel attack. | The four foreigners, one an election observer from Paraguay, were gunned down in Kabul’s supposedly highly secure Serena Hotel on Thursday evening. At least five Afghans also lost their lives in the hotel attack. |
| Four teenage gunmen managed to sneak six small pistols and scores of bullets in their shoes past screening machines and body searches, according to Afghan officials. | Four teenage gunmen managed to sneak six small pistols and scores of bullets in their shoes past screening machines and body searches, according to Afghan officials. |
| The Taliban claimed responsibility for the Serena Hotel attack, saying the men were suicide bombers and were equipped with grenades as well as rockets. One of them blew up the gate of the hotel, which is near the presidential palace, the Taliban said. | The Taliban claimed responsibility for the Serena Hotel attack, saying the men were suicide bombers and were equipped with grenades as well as rockets. One of them blew up the gate of the hotel, which is near the presidential palace, the Taliban said. |
| At a news conference on Tuesday, Mashal rejected the Taliban claim, saying that there was no blast and that the attackers had nothing on them except for the small pistols. | At a news conference on Tuesday, Mashal rejected the Taliban claim, saying that there was no blast and that the attackers had nothing on them except for the small pistols. |
| Mashal blamed hotel guards, who are not part of the government’s security apparatus, for failing to find the attackers’ weapons and for rushing to a bunker instead of responding to the gunfire. | Mashal blamed hotel guards, who are not part of the government’s security apparatus, for failing to find the attackers’ weapons and for rushing to a bunker instead of responding to the gunfire. |
| Mashal also blamed neighboring Pakistan’s spy agency, the ISI, for the hotel attack. Most of the staff at the hotel are Pakistanis, he said. A Pakistani diplomat had recently filmed the hotel, drawing suspicion of its authorities, and his gym membership had expired a day before the attack, Mashal added. | Mashal also blamed neighboring Pakistan’s spy agency, the ISI, for the hotel attack. Most of the staff at the hotel are Pakistanis, he said. A Pakistani diplomat had recently filmed the hotel, drawing suspicion of its authorities, and his gym membership had expired a day before the attack, Mashal added. |
| “Another reason why we say Pakistan was involved is that on average five or six Pakistanis were coming for supper, but none came on the night of the attack,” he said. | “Another reason why we say Pakistan was involved is that on average five or six Pakistanis were coming for supper, but none came on the night of the attack,” he said. |
| Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of providing sanctuary, arms and training to the resurgent Taliban, which had been toppled by U.S.-backed Afghan forces in 2001. The Pakistani government has denied this. | Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of providing sanctuary, arms and training to the resurgent Taliban, which had been toppled by U.S.-backed Afghan forces in 2001. The Pakistani government has denied this. |