Kabul: A suicide bombing in Afghanistan’s eastern Logar province late Thursday night killed eight people and wounded at least 30, authorities said Friday. The suicide bomber struck in the provincial capital of Pul-e-Alam and targetted a police checkpoint. Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said many of the victims who were injured due to the suicide bombing were civilians.
Provincial police spokesman Shahpoor Ahmadzai said the civilian casualties were mainly in cars that had stopped at the checkpoint for a security check. At the hospital where the victims were brought to, witnesses reported seeing several children who had been hurt in the bombing. The witnesses asked their names not be used because of fears of retaliation.
The Taliban promptly denied responsibility for the attack. The suicide bombing came on the eve of the major Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. A three-day cease-fire has been declared for the occasion by the Taliban. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahed said the cease-fire remained on track and was set to go into effect at midnight.
The Islamic State (IS) group’s affiliate for Afghanistan also operates in the region. However, it did not immediately claim responsibility for the bombing. The militant group has stepped up its attacks lately.
The United States blamed IS for a brutal attack in May on a maternity hospital in Kabul. The attack killed 24 people, including newborn infants.
Muslims around the world will be celebrating Eid al-Adha or ‘Feast of the Sacrifice’, for three days, stating Friday. This most important Islamic holiday marks the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim – Abraham to Christians and Jews – to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God.