This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-33814737
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan blast: Kabul rocked by deadly explosions | Afghanistan blast: Kabul rocked by deadly explosions |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| At least 35 people have died and hundreds more have been wounded in separate bomb attacks over the last 24 hours in the Afghan capital Kabul. | At least 35 people have died and hundreds more have been wounded in separate bomb attacks over the last 24 hours in the Afghan capital Kabul. |
| A suicide bomber blew himself up near the city's police academy on Friday evening, killing about 20 recruits. | A suicide bomber blew himself up near the city's police academy on Friday evening, killing about 20 recruits. |
| A short while later a large explosion was heard north of the airport. | A short while later a large explosion was heard north of the airport. |
| In the early hours of Friday, a truck carrying explosives was detonated near an army base in the Shah Shahid area, claiming 15 lives. | In the early hours of Friday, a truck carrying explosives was detonated near an army base in the Shah Shahid area, claiming 15 lives. |
| The Taliban has claimed only one attack - the suicide bombing of the police academy. | The Taliban has claimed only one attack - the suicide bombing of the police academy. |
| President Ashraf Ghani has suggested that the group is seeking to divert attention away from its leadership struggles. | President Ashraf Ghani has suggested that the group is seeking to divert attention away from its leadership struggles. |
| Officials said Friday evening's suicide bomber was dressed in police uniform when he detonated an explosives-laden vest outside the gates of Kabul's police academy. | Officials said Friday evening's suicide bomber was dressed in police uniform when he detonated an explosives-laden vest outside the gates of Kabul's police academy. |
| He had stood among a queue of police cadets who were waiting to enter the building having returned from their two-day weekend, officials said. | He had stood among a queue of police cadets who were waiting to enter the building having returned from their two-day weekend, officials said. |
| At least 25 cadets were wounded. | At least 25 cadets were wounded. |
| "It was huge, all the victims are military students," said one local resident. "They were all students of the academy." | "It was huge, all the victims are military students," said one local resident. "They were all students of the academy." |
| Observers say the attack on the police academy marks a serious breach of security in an already heavily-fortified city. | Observers say the attack on the police academy marks a serious breach of security in an already heavily-fortified city. |
| Just two hours after this attack, a loud explosion was heard across much of the city followed by sustained gunfire, the BBC's Philip Palmer reports from the Afghan capital. | Just two hours after this attack, a loud explosion was heard across much of the city followed by sustained gunfire, the BBC's Philip Palmer reports from the Afghan capital. |
| Police said the attack was to the north of the airport, close to an area housing several Nato and Afghan military bases and training facilities. | Police said the attack was to the north of the airport, close to an area housing several Nato and Afghan military bases and training facilities. |
| The truck bomb, which went off in the early hours of Friday in the largely residential Shah Shahid area, caused one of the largest explosions the city has ever experienced. | The truck bomb, which went off in the early hours of Friday in the largely residential Shah Shahid area, caused one of the largest explosions the city has ever experienced. |
| It flattened buildings, damaged cars and left a 10m (30ft) crater in the road. | It flattened buildings, damaged cars and left a 10m (30ft) crater in the road. |
| At least 240 people - mostly civilians - were wounded. The injured, including women and children, were rushed to hospital for treatment, and some bodies were feared buried in the wreckage of shops and businesses. | At least 240 people - mostly civilians - were wounded. The injured, including women and children, were rushed to hospital for treatment, and some bodies were feared buried in the wreckage of shops and businesses. |
| These attacks - along with Thursday's suicide bombing in eastern Afghanistan that killed six people - are the first major incidents since the Taliban confirmed last week that its leader, Mullah Omar, was dead. | These attacks - along with Thursday's suicide bombing in eastern Afghanistan that killed six people - are the first major incidents since the Taliban confirmed last week that its leader, Mullah Omar, was dead. |
| On Monday the Afghan Taliban released a video which they said showed members of the group pledging allegiance to the new leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour. | On Monday the Afghan Taliban released a video which they said showed members of the group pledging allegiance to the new leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour. |
| But there is speculation of a power struggle and violent infighting within the military group, between supporters and opponents of Mansour. | But there is speculation of a power struggle and violent infighting within the military group, between supporters and opponents of Mansour. |
| Such infighting has led to fears for fragile peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government, aimed at ending the long-running violence. | Such infighting has led to fears for fragile peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government, aimed at ending the long-running violence. |