KABUL (Reuters) – ISIS claimed responsibility for Monday’s attack near the entrance to the Russian embassy in Kabul, according to the militant group’s Telegram app channel. Russian Foreign Ministry and Afghan officials said 10 more people were injured.
Police said the attacker was shot dead by armed guards as he approached the gate, in one of the first such attacks since the Taliban came to power last year.
“The suicide bomber was recognized before he hit the target and was shot by Russian embassy guards,” Mevlevi Sabir, head of the police district where the attack took place, told Reuters.
In a statement made by the Russian Foreign Ministry, it was stated that an unidentified militant detonated an explosive device near the entrance of the consular section of the embassy at around 10:50 am in Kabul.
“As a result of the attack, two officials from the diplomatic mission lost their lives, while there are also casualties among Afghan citizens,” the ministry said.
Kabul police spokesman Khaled Zadran said the other four people who died were Afghan civilians.
Russia is one of the few countries to have an embassy in Kabul after the Taliban took over the country more than a year ago. Although Moscow does not formally recognize the Taliban government, they are in talks with officials about a deal for the supply of gasoline and other commodities.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan (Unama) condemned the explosion.
“In light of recent events, Unama stresses that the authorities really need to take steps to ensure the safety of people and diplomatic missions,” the UN tweeted, referring to the Taliban government.
source: Noticias
