December 16, 2007
Blast Kills Five at Headquarters of Kabul Police
By SANGAR RAHIMI and TAIMOOR SHAH
KABUL, Afghanistan -- A vehicle packed with rockets exploded across the street from the Kabul police headquarters on Saturday, killing five civilians and wounding at least 24 others, Afghan officials said. Three policemen were among the wounded.
Police officials said the blast, shortly after 8 a.m., was caused by a suicide bomber. But witnesses said they thought the vehicle, a small truck, had been parked along the side of the street. The explosion, in the center of the capital, was a blow for the Afghan government at a time when the city is full of shoppers ahead of the Muslim festival Id al-Adha, the Islamic Feast of Sacrifice, which starts this week.
Kabul has had a string of suicide attacks in recent weeks. A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujaheed, claimed responsibility for the attack on Saturday and said insurgents had fired two rockets over the police station and then detonated a car bomb.
But an Afghan police official at the scene, who asked not to be identified, said several rockets were packed in the truck, and one flew and hit an area beside the main street where pedestrians were walking and furniture shops were opening for business.
"Five civilians were martyred in this suicide attack," said Gen. Ali Shah Paktiawal, director of criminal investigation for the Kabul police.
Shafiullah, 36, a metal worker, said he was shopping at the small street stalls when the explosion occurred. "I bought a pair of socks when I heard a small explosion first, and after a minute I heard another which was a very strong explosion and I saw a policeman injured," he said.
Muhammad Zelgay, a street vendor whose pushcart full of dried fruit was burning, said he survived by hiding in a ditch after the first explosion. "I left my cart and lay down in the ditch when the second explosion happened," he said. "I couldn't see anything else because of the smoke and dust."
Sangar Rahimi reported from Kabul, and Taimoor Shah from Kandahar.