KABUL — A week after proclaiming their spring offensive, Taliban terrorists stormed an Afghan government security agency with a suicide car bomb and gunfire Tuesday, killing 28 people and wounding hundreds in a sign of the insurgency’s continued strength — even in the capital.
The coordinated attack in central Kabul appeared to have targeted an agency that provides an elite security force for high-ranking government officials, similar to the U.S. Secret Service.
“(The blast) was one of the most powerful explosions I have ever heard in my life,” said police Cmdr. Obaidullah Tarakhail, who was nearby and couldn’t see or hear anything for 20 minutes afterward. “All around was dark and covered with thick smoke and dust.”
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack. On April 12, the terrorists announced the start of their warm-weather fighting season, vowing to carry out large-scale attacks in the 15th year of their war against the U.S.-backed government.
The Taliban has remained resilient as the government struggles to confront the violence amid a bitter feud between President Ashraf Ghani and the country’s top executive, Abdullah Abdullah.
Two terrorists carried out the assault, said Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi. One attacker drove the small truck packed with explosives that caused the initial blast, and he was followed by the second assailant who entered the compound in the chaotic aftermath and opened fire before being killed by security forces, the spokesman said.
“With no doubt, there was a security vacuum, and that needs to be investigated,” Sediqqi said, refusing to comment further.
The bomb heavily damaged buildings and vehicles, he said, noting that the death toll of 28 could rise. At least 327 wounded were brought to hospitals, said Ismail Kawasi, a spokesman for the Public Health Ministry.
Abdullah went to the scene and strongly condemned “this act of brutality.”
“The government raised the call for peace, but unfortunately the answer by the enemy was fighting, violence, bloodshed, killing innocent people,” he said.
After the Taliban began its spring offensive, Abdullah said, “the brave security forces of our country defeated them, and they had many casualties, so today by carrying out such an attack, they wanted to get revenge.”
