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| Suicide bomber targets British vehicle in Afghanistan | Suicide bomber targets British vehicle in Afghanistan |
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| KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber attacked a British Embassy vehicle in the eastern part of the Afghan capital Thursday, killing at least five and injuring more than 30, according to law enforcement officials. | KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber attacked a British Embassy vehicle in the eastern part of the Afghan capital Thursday, killing at least five and injuring more than 30, according to law enforcement officials. |
| It’s the latest in a spate of assaults targeting foreigners as most U.S. and international troops are preparing to withdraw by the end of the year. | It’s the latest in a spate of assaults targeting foreigners as most U.S. and international troops are preparing to withdraw by the end of the year. |
| Authorities said the attacker detonated a car filled with explosives near the British vehicle, killing one British citizen and four Afghans. | Authorities said the attacker detonated a car filled with explosives near the British vehicle, killing one British citizen and four Afghans. |
| Britain’s Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said in statement that a British citizen belonging to the embassy’s civilian security team and an Afghan working for the embassy were killed in the attack. A second British member of the security team was injured. | |
| “I condemn this appalling attack on innocent civilians supporting our diplomatic activity,” the statement said. “This outrage brings home to us once again the courage and perseverance of the people of Afghanistan and members of the international community who support them, who have lived together through decades of conflict.” | |
| The attack unfolded around 10 a.m. | |
| “I heard a huge blast,” said Mohammad Omar, an Afghan guard working for a construction company with an office near the scene of the bombing. “I was dazed, but a few minutes later I saw three cars destroyed and many people wounded.” | “I heard a huge blast,” said Mohammad Omar, an Afghan guard working for a construction company with an office near the scene of the bombing. “I was dazed, but a few minutes later I saw three cars destroyed and many people wounded.” |
| The Taliban Islamist insurgency claimed responsibility for the attack, as it has for other bombings that have rocked the capital in recent weeks. In a tweet, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that the “martyrdom attack targeted foreign invaders.” | The Taliban Islamist insurgency claimed responsibility for the attack, as it has for other bombings that have rocked the capital in recent weeks. In a tweet, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that the “martyrdom attack targeted foreign invaders.” |
| The explosion was heard miles away in other parts of Kabul, and black smoke rose from the scene, which was about a mile from the bases where foreign contractors live. | |
| It was the second time this week that foreigners were attacked in a similar fashion in the same area. On Monday, two American soldiers, including one from Maryland’s eastern shore, were killed nearby when a bomb attached to a bicycle exploded as their convoy passed. | It was the second time this week that foreigners were attacked in a similar fashion in the same area. On Monday, two American soldiers, including one from Maryland’s eastern shore, were killed nearby when a bomb attached to a bicycle exploded as their convoy passed. |
| The Pentagon on Wednesday said Command Sgt. Maj. Wardell B. Turner, 48, of Nanticoke, and Spc. Joseph W. Riley of Grove City, Ohio. Both soldiers were working with the International Security Assistance Force, the NATO-led mission to help stabilize Afghanistan. | The Pentagon on Wednesday said Command Sgt. Maj. Wardell B. Turner, 48, of Nanticoke, and Spc. Joseph W. Riley of Grove City, Ohio. Both soldiers were working with the International Security Assistance Force, the NATO-led mission to help stabilize Afghanistan. |
| Attacks in Kabul, and in other parts of the country, have intensified since Afghanistan’s new President Ashraf Ghani took office two months ago and signed a security pact to extend the presence of US and international forces beyond the end of the year. | Attacks in Kabul, and in other parts of the country, have intensified since Afghanistan’s new President Ashraf Ghani took office two months ago and signed a security pact to extend the presence of US and international forces beyond the end of the year. |
| The Taliban has denounced Ghani and his close ties to Washington and have launched a campaign attacking high profile targets. In recent weeks they have tried to assassinate Kabul’s police chief and a prominent women’s rights activist. They have also repeatedly assaulted compounds inhabited by foreign contractors. | The Taliban has denounced Ghani and his close ties to Washington and have launched a campaign attacking high profile targets. In recent weeks they have tried to assassinate Kabul’s police chief and a prominent women’s rights activist. They have also repeatedly assaulted compounds inhabited by foreign contractors. |