ISIS suicide bombing in Afghanistan kills 33, injures 100

Asia-Pacific, News April 18, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

JALALABAD, (Afghanistan) — At least 33 people died and more than 100 were injured in a suicide bomb attack in eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Saturday morning, with the Islamic State of Iraq and greater Syria (ISIS) claiming responsibility for attack.

A blast took place outside a local bank, police chief Fazel Ahmad Sherzad told.

The bombing at the Kabul Bank branch here, in which a man wearing an explosive vest targeted a crowd of people waiting to collect their pay, also wounded 125, making it the worst suicide attack this year, Afghan officials said. All of the victims were civilians, the police said.

According to some reports, the first explosion was shortly followed by another blast. At least one suicide bomber was reportedly involved. Witnesses heard a third blast, but according to local media reports it was a controlled explosion by authorities, who detonated another suspicious device.

The Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIS or ISIL) extremist group has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the Afghan Pajhwok news agency, citing the group’s spokesman.

“Today the deadly attack in Nangarhar Province — who claimed responsibility?” said Mr. Ghani, speaking on national television during a visit to the northern province of Badakhshan, which has been hit hard by recent Taliban attacks. “Taliban did not claim responsibility, but Daesh claimed responsibility.” Daesh is the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL.

Taliban denied involvement, condemning the suicide attack. A Taliban spokesman said: “It was an evil act. We strongly condemn it.”

Separately, a militant group linked to ISIS reportedly released a picture of the alleged suicide bomber who struck the bank branch in Jalalabad as people queued up outside to collected their paychecks.

If confirmed as an ISIS attack, Saturday’s suicide bombing would mark a significant expansion of the terrorist group’s activities from its base in the Middle East.

The top United Nations official in Afghanistan, Nicholas Haysom, condemned the bombing. “The continuing use of suicide attacks in densely populated areas, that are certain to kill and maim large numbers of Afghan civilians, may amount to a war crime,” he said. “Those responsible for this horrendous crime must be held accountable.”