Kabul (AFP) – A suicide bomber killed at least 14 people in an attack on a minibus carrying Nepalese security guards in Kabul early Monday, Afghan officials said.
“Initial report of today’s terrorist attack in Kabul 14 killed and eight wounded. Police are working to ID victims,” interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqui said on Twitter.
A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, claiming it was “against the forces of aggression” in Afghanistan.
The bombing, carried out by a suicide bomber on foot according to police, occurred just before 6:00 am (0130 GMT) in the east of the Kabul along the main road to the eastern city of Jalalabad.
It was the first attack in the capital since the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan two weeks ago.
The last attack in the Afghan capital on April 19 left 64 dead and more than 340 wounded.
That attack was also claimed by the Taliban, who have been waging an insurgency against the Western-backed Kabul government since they were ousted from power by a US-led invasion in late 2001.
Washington recently announced an expansion of the US military’s authority to conduct air strikes against the Taliban, significantly boosting Afghan forces who have limited close air-support capacities.
US forces have been in an advisory role in Afghanistan since the start of 2015 and were only authorised to hit Taliban targets for defensive reasons, or to protect Afghan soldiers.
The changes mean US troops can now work more closely with local fighters in striking the Taliban, who have demanded the departure of all foreign forces.
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