Nine die in suicide attack

28/09/2005 22:19 - (SA)

Kabul - A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle blew himself up outside an army training centre in the Afghan capital on Wednesday, killing nine people and injuring 28, the defence ministry said.

Taliban rebels claimed responsibility for the powerful blast, which ripped through a crowd of soldiers waiting to take buses home from the base on the northeastern outskirts of Kabul, officials and witnesses said.

It was the first major attack in Afghanistan since the war-scarred country held landmark parliamentary elections 10 days ago, and follows a period of relative calm in the city.

"Today just after 16:30 (12:00 GMT) a man riding on a motorbike and wearing a military uniform carried out a suicide attack in front of the Kabul military training centre," Defence Ministry spokesman Mohammed Zahir Azimi said.

"Our initial reports suggest that nine people have been killed and 28 wounded. Four of the nine killed are Afghan National Army soldiers and the rest are under investigation," he said, adding that three vehicles were destroyed.

A purported spokesperson for the ousted Taliban regime, which was toppled by US-led forces in 2001, said one of its fighters had carried out the attack on the base. His claim could not be verified independently.

Guards allowed bomber through gates

"We take responsibility for today's suicide attack," Abdul Latif Hakimi told AFP from an unknown location. "It was carried out by Mullah Sardar Mohammad, from Kabul. The number of casualties is much higher than the authorities say."

Witnesses said guards allowed the bomber through the gates to the compound because of his uniform and that he then accelerated and pointed the bike towards a gap between the waiting buses.

"It was rush hour and I was waiting with everyone for their buses to go home, when I saw a motorcycle rushing towards lots of buses and people in the parking area," the major told an AFP reporter near the scene.

"Suddenly I heard a huge boom. I fell to the ground and when I stood up I saw several bodies scattered around. Two buses were on fire and there was human flesh around me."

A Western military source speaking on condition of anonymity said the victims were all Afghans and none were serving with either the US military or with the NAT0-led peacekeeping force in Afghanistan.

Dozens of peacekeepers and police closed off the Jalalabad road leading the blast site. Many organisations have warehouses along the road, including the body in charge of the recent elections.

A source with the Afghan Non-governmental Security Organisation said they had received a warning that a second suicide bomber could be riding around the city preparing for another attack, but it could not be confirmed.

Violence linked to rebels from the Taliban regime has left around 1 300 people dead this year, the worst since the hardline movement was driven from power.

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