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Afghanistan: Taliban suicide bomb attack near Kabul airport | Afghanistan: Taliban suicide bomb attack near Kabul airport |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Taliban suicide bomber has attacked a checkpoint near the entrance to the international airport in the Afghan capital Kabul, killing five people. | A Taliban suicide bomber has attacked a checkpoint near the entrance to the international airport in the Afghan capital Kabul, killing five people. |
Local officials said at least 16 people were injured in the blast, which happened at about midday (07:30 GMT). | Local officials said at least 16 people were injured in the blast, which happened at about midday (07:30 GMT). |
A Taliban spokesman said the attack targeted a convoy of foreigners but it is unclear if any died or were injured. | A Taliban spokesman said the attack targeted a convoy of foreigners but it is unclear if any died or were injured. |
The incident is the latest in a series of recent deadly attacks following the announcement of a new Taliban leader. | The incident is the latest in a series of recent deadly attacks following the announcement of a new Taliban leader. |
President Ashraf Ghani is due to hold a televised press conference later on Monday to discuss the security situation. | President Ashraf Ghani is due to hold a televised press conference later on Monday to discuss the security situation. |
Kabul's deputy police chief, Sayed Gul Agha Rouhani, told reporters that a suicide bomber had driven a vehicle into the first checkpoint on the road into the airport. | |
Images showed a large plume of smoke rising from the site of the blast and locals reported seeing ambulances approaching the scene. | Images showed a large plume of smoke rising from the site of the blast and locals reported seeing ambulances approaching the scene. |
Wahidullah Mayar, a spokesman for the public health ministry, said a young child was among those injured in the explosion. | Wahidullah Mayar, a spokesman for the public health ministry, said a young child was among those injured in the explosion. |
Monday's Taliban attack comes after three deadly attacks on Friday that killed at least 50 people. | Monday's Taliban attack comes after three deadly attacks on Friday that killed at least 50 people. |
A suicide bomber blew himself up near the city's police academy on Friday evening, killing about 20 recruits. | A suicide bomber blew himself up near the city's police academy on Friday evening, killing about 20 recruits. |
A short while later, gunmen launched an attack on Camp Integrity, a Nato base that houses US special forces near the airport. | A short while later, gunmen launched an attack on Camp Integrity, a Nato base that houses US special forces near the airport. |
Eleven people, including an American soldier and eight contractors, were killed in the attack on the base. | Eleven people, including an American soldier and eight contractors, were killed in the attack on the base. |
Earlier on Friday, a truck carrying explosives was detonated near an army base in the Shah Shahid area of the capital, claiming 15 lives. | Earlier on Friday, a truck carrying explosives was detonated near an army base in the Shah Shahid area of the capital, claiming 15 lives. |
The Taliban said it was behind the attack on the police academy but did not mention the two other incidents. | The Taliban said it was behind the attack on the police academy but did not mention the two other incidents. |
'Succession battle' | 'Succession battle' |
A top UN official said the attacks were likely to be the product of a Taliban power struggle following the death of the group's leader Mullah Omar. | A top UN official said the attacks were likely to be the product of a Taliban power struggle following the death of the group's leader Mullah Omar. |
"We suspect the upsurge in violence may be triggered by the succession battle within the Taliban," Nicholas Haysom, the head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, told the BBC on Saturday. | "We suspect the upsurge in violence may be triggered by the succession battle within the Taliban," Nicholas Haysom, the head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, told the BBC on Saturday. |
Last week, the Taliban released a video in which they showed members of the group pledging allegiance to the new leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour. | Last week, the Taliban released a video in which they showed members of the group pledging allegiance to the new leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour. |
But analysts suggest there has been infighting within the group between supporters and opponents of Mansour. | But analysts suggest there has been infighting within the group between supporters and opponents of Mansour. |
The Taliban's announcement that Mullah Omar had died led to a tentative peace process being suspended last week. | The Taliban's announcement that Mullah Omar had died led to a tentative peace process being suspended last week. |