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Taliban suicide truck bomb kills six in Afghanistan Taliban suicide truck bomb kills six at Afghanistan police compound
(35 minutes later)
Six people have been killed after a Taliban suicide truck bomber struck a police compound in Afghanistan, in the first major insurgent attack since the announcement of leader Mullah Omar’s death.Six people have been killed after a Taliban suicide truck bomber struck a police compound in Afghanistan, in the first major insurgent attack since the announcement of leader Mullah Omar’s death.
The attack in Pul-i-Alam, the capital of insurgency-prone Logar province south of Kabul, highlights growing insecurity as Afghan forces face their first summer fighting season without full Nato support. The attack in Pul-i-Alam, the capital of the country’s restive Logar province , south of Kabul, highlights growing insecurity as Afghan forces face their first summer fighting season without full Nato support.
The bombing coincides with a faltering peace process, with the Taliban confronted by an increasingly bitter power transition after Mullah Akhtar Mansoor was announced as the new leader last Friday.The bombing coincides with a faltering peace process, with the Taliban confronted by an increasingly bitter power transition after Mullah Akhtar Mansoor was announced as the new leader last Friday.
Related: Mullah Akhtar Mansoor: Taliban's new leader has a reputation for moderationRelated: Mullah Akhtar Mansoor: Taliban's new leader has a reputation for moderation
“A water truck filled with explosives was detonated when it was stopped at the gate of the quick reaction force [police] compound,” said deputy provincial police chief Mohammad Qari Wara. “It was a powerful explosion which killed three members of the quick reaction force and three civilians.”“A water truck filled with explosives was detonated when it was stopped at the gate of the quick reaction force [police] compound,” said deputy provincial police chief Mohammad Qari Wara. “It was a powerful explosion which killed three members of the quick reaction force and three civilians.”
An official from the provincial governor’s office confirmed the death toll, adding that eight civilians, including a child, were wounded. An official from the provincial governor’s office confirmed the death toll, adding that eight civilians, including a child, had been wounded.
The force of the explosion damaged government buildings nearby, while the site of the attack was littered with debris and shards of broken glass.The force of the explosion damaged government buildings nearby, while the site of the attack was littered with debris and shards of broken glass.
The Afghan interior ministry said Thursday’s bombing was the first suicide attack since the Taliban confirmed the death of Omar, who led the militant movement for about 20 years.The Afghan interior ministry said Thursday’s bombing was the first suicide attack since the Taliban confirmed the death of Omar, who led the militant movement for about 20 years.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, with spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid saying a “Mazda truck packed with heavy explosives … killed more than 100 security personnel”.The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, with spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid saying a “Mazda truck packed with heavy explosives … killed more than 100 security personnel”.
Taliban insurgents routinely exaggerate the death toll in attacks on Afghan government and military targets. But in a rare admission, Mujahid said “some civilians may have been wounded as a result of broken glass”. The Taliban do not usually claim responsibility for attacks which result in a large number of civilian casualties.Taliban insurgents routinely exaggerate the death toll in attacks on Afghan government and military targets. But in a rare admission, Mujahid said “some civilians may have been wounded as a result of broken glass”. The Taliban do not usually claim responsibility for attacks which result in a large number of civilian casualties.
Civilian casualties in Afghanistan hit a record high in the first half of 2015, a UN report said on Wednesday, as Afghan forces struggle to contain the expanding conflict six months after the Nato combat mission ended.Civilian casualties in Afghanistan hit a record high in the first half of 2015, a UN report said on Wednesday, as Afghan forces struggle to contain the expanding conflict six months after the Nato combat mission ended.
Related: Taliban officially announce death of Mullah OmarRelated: Taliban officially announce death of Mullah Omar
The report said 1,592 civilians were killed, a 6% fall from last year, but the number of injured rose 4% to 3,329. The casualties have reached their highest level since UN reports began in 2009.The report said 1,592 civilians were killed, a 6% fall from last year, but the number of injured rose 4% to 3,329. The casualties have reached their highest level since UN reports began in 2009.
The statistics indicate rising violence as the Taliban insurgency spreads north from its traditional southern and eastern strongholds, with Afghan forces increasingly battling the militants on their own.The statistics indicate rising violence as the Taliban insurgency spreads north from its traditional southern and eastern strongholds, with Afghan forces increasingly battling the militants on their own.
US-led Nato forces ended their mission in Afghanistan in December, but a 13,000-strong residual force remains for training and counter-terrorism operations. US-led Nato forces ended their mission in Afghanistan in December, but a 13,000-strong force remains for training and counter-terrorism operations.
The Taliban face growing internal divisions after Mansoor’s appointment. An acrimonious power struggle has broken out, casting a pall over a fragile peace process aimed at ending Afghanistan’s long war.The Taliban face growing internal divisions after Mansoor’s appointment. An acrimonious power struggle has broken out, casting a pall over a fragile peace process aimed at ending Afghanistan’s long war.
The Taliban distanced themselves from the second round of talks with the Afghan government that were scheduled for last Friday and cancelled after the announcement of Omar’s death. The Taliban distanced itself from the second round of talks with the Afghan government that were scheduled for last Friday and cancelled after the announcement of Omar’s death.