| April 2016 Kabul attack | |
|---|---|
| Part ofWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021),Operation Omari | |
  Kabul Kabul (Afghanistan) | |
 Interactive map of April 2016 Kabul attack | |
| Location | 34°33′19″N69°12′27″E / 34.5553°N 69.2075°E /34.5553; 69.2075 Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Date | 19 April 2016 |
| Target | Government employees |
Attack type | Mass murder,suicide bombing |
| Weapons | Bomb,guns |
| Deaths | 69 (62; 7)† |
| Injured | 367+ (347; 20+)† |
| Perpetrators |  Taliban |
† First number in brackets: primary attack Second number in brackets: attack on broadcaster | |
On the morning of 19 April 2016,Taliban militants attacked a security team responsible for protecting governmentVIPs inKabul,Afghanistan. The initial attack killed 64 people and wounded 347. It was their biggest attack on an urban area since 2001.[1][2][3]
Local broadcasterTOLOnews reported that the attack involved asuicide bomber detonating a vehicle laden with "hundreds of kilograms of explosives" and the militants then making their way into the compound of "Department 10" of theNational Directorate of Security (NDS)[2] and opening fire. The bomb that detonated caused a ceiling to collapse in a classroom where elite intelligence officers were being trained. An Afghan security official said members of that unit accounted for about half of the people killed.[4] The local broadcast station said that a two-hour gun battle ensued between the militants and security forces.[5][6]
Sediq Sediqi, a spokesman for the AfghaniInterior Ministry, said that despite the target, most of the victims were civilians.[1]Ismail Kawasi, spokesman for the Public Health Ministry, said that 327 wounded have been brought to area hospitals.[1] On 20 April 2016, Sediqi confirmed in a tweet that 64 "innocent Afghans" were killed and 347 wounded.[7]
Afghan Taliban spokesmanZabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.[6] He said as many as 92 security staff and soldiers were killed.[2] It came after the group announced its annualspring offensiveOperation Omari.[6]
PresidentAshraf Ghani issued a statement saying that the attack proved that the Taliban were growing weak and therefore resorting toasymmetric warfare.[1] Shortly after the attack, women's rights activistWazhma Frogh wrote onTwitter that the attacks took place near schools and that parents were attempting to protect their children.[6]
Some parliamentarians strongly condemned President Ashraf Ghani for failing to provide security from the terrorist attacks.[4]
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