April 2016 Kabul attack

April 2016 Kabul attack
Part of War in Afghanistan (2015–present), Operation Omari
Location	Kabul, Afghanistan
Coordinates	34°33′19″N 69°12′27″E / 34.5553°N 69.2075°ECoordinates: 34°33′19″N 69°12′27″E / 34.5553°N 69.2075°E
Date	19 April 2016
Target	Government employees
Attack type	Mass murder, suicide bombing
Weapons	Bomb, guns
Deaths	71 (64; 7)†
Non-fatal injuries	367+ (347; 20+)†
Perpetrators	Taliban
† First number in brackets: primary attack Second number in brackets: attack on broadcaster

On the morning of 19 April 2016, Taliban militants attacked a security team responsible for protecting government VIPs in Kabul, Afghanistan. The initial attack killed 64 people and wounded 347. It was their biggest attack on an urban area since 2001.^[1][2][3]

Bombings

Local broadcaster TOLOnews reported that the attack involved a suicide bomber detonating a vehicle laden with "hundreds of kilograms of explosives" and the militants then making their way into the compound of "Department 10" of the National Directorate of Security (NDS)^[2] and opening fire. The bomb that detonated caused a ceiling to collapse in a classroom where elite intelligence officers were being trained. An Afghan security official said members of that unit accounted for about half of the people killed.^[4] The local broadcast station said that a two-hour gun battle ensued between the militants and security forces.^[5][6]

Developments

Sediq Sediqi, a spokesman for the Afghani Interior Ministry, said that despite the target, most of the victims were civilians.^[1] Ismail Kawasi, spokesman for the Public Health Ministry, said that 327 wounded have been brought to area hospitals.^[1] On 20 April 2016, Sediqi confirmed in a tweet that 64 "innocent Afghans" were killed and 347 wounded.^[7]

Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.^[6] He said as many as 92 security staff and soldiers were killed.^[2] It came after the group announced its annual ‘spring offensive’ Operation Omari.^[6]

Reactions

Domestic

President Ashraf Ghani issued a statement saying that the attack proved that the Taliban were growing weak and therefore resorting to asymmetric warfare.^[1] Shortly after the attack, women's rights activist Wazhma Frogh wrote on Twitter that the attacks took place near schools and that parents were attempting to protect their children.^[6]

Some parliamentarians strongly condemned President Ashraf Ghani for failing to provide security from the terrorist attacks.^[8]

International

Supranational unions

•  NATO: General John W. Nicholson, Jr., commander of the Resolute Support Mission, said the attack was a sign of the Taliban's weakness.^[5][6]
•  United Nations: The Security Council said that those involved should be brought to justice^[9]

Countries

•  India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that his condolences and that his prayers were with those affected by the attacks.^[10][11]
•  Turkey: Foreign Ministry statemented condemning the attack, they expressed condolences. In addition, they told they supported the Government of Afghanistan for the fight against terrorism.^[12]
•  United States: White House spokesman Josh Earnest called for the Taliban to cease activities that harmed civilians, and to instead ‘pursue a pathway of peace’.^[9] The Embassy of the United States, Kabul said the attack underscored the harm the Taliban continued to inflict on the Afghan people.^[2]

See also

• List of Islamist terrorist attacks
• List of terrorist incidents, January–June 2016

References

1. Faiez, Rahim. "Dozens Killed in Taliban Attack on Afghan Security Agency". ABC News. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
2. Smith, Josh (19 April 2016). "Afghan Taliban kill at least 28 in major attack in central Kabul". Reuters. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
3. Shereena Qazi, Al Jazeera, and agencies (19 April 2016). "Suicide car bomber attacks heart of Afghanistan's Kabul". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
4. Craig, Tim; Salahuddin, Sayed (2016-04-20). "As Kabul death toll rises, fears also boosted of more powerful Taliban bombs". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
5. Onyanga-Omara, Jane. "Officials: At least 28 dead, over 300 wounded in Kabul attack". USA Today. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
6. Michael Pearson, Masoud Popalzai and Zahra Ullah. "Dozens die in Afghanistan as Taliban attack". CNN. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
7. "Afghanistan attack: Kabul suicide blast deaths rise to 64 - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
8. Craig, Tim; Salahuddin, Sayed (2016-04-20). "As Kabul death toll rises, fears also boosted of more powerful Taliban bombs". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
9. Press, Associated (2016-04-19). "The Latest: UN Security Council condemns Taliban attack". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
10. "PM Narendra Modi condemns terror attack in Kabul". The Economic Times. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
11. "Modi condemns Kabul blast". Business Standard. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
12. "Press Release Regarding the Suicide Attack Perpetrated in Kabul". http://www.mfa.gov.tr/. TR Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 19 April 2016. External link in |website= (help)