“The attack occurred at 8:30 in the morning as people were heading to work and was particularly disturbing given the beefed-up security in Kabul ahead of the August 20 presidential and provincial elections…”
“Blast in Kabul kills 7, injures dozens,” from CNN, August 15:
KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) — A suicide car bombing exploded outside the NATO headquarters in Afghanistan early Saturday, killing seven people and injuring 91 just five days before the country holds presidential elections, an Interior Ministry spokesman said
The massive bomb detonated near the main gate of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters. Among the wounded were several coalition service members, according to ISAF.
The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, an ISAF spokesman told CNN.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the front-runner in the polls, condemned the bombing.
“The enemies of Afghanistan, through such attacks in the run-up to the elections, want to spread terror among people, but they must know that Afghans are fully aware of the value of the elections and will cast their votes for the sake of security and peace in their country,” Karzai said in a statement.
But Ferishta, 21, who like many Afghans gives out only her first name, was deterred.
“After seeing today’s events, I have no intention in voting,” she said, wearing a blood-soaked shirt and connected to an intravenous drip. “If we are not at peace, why should we vote, who should we vote for?”
One witness at the scene told CNN the explosion left a huge crater and damaged a coalition forces’ vehicle. Billowing smoke rose over the city. […]
The attack occurred at 8:30 in the morning as people were heading to work and was particularly disturbing given the beefed-up security in Kabul ahead of the August 20 presidential and provincial elections, only the second since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001.
The area around the ISAF headquarters is heavily fortified with concrete blast barriers and extra security forces.
Security has been a key concern as Afghans prepare to go to the polls next week. The Taliban has vowed to disrupt the voting….