ISIS terrorist group claimed the deadly blast targeting Afghanistan’s election commission

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for Monday’s blast at Afghanistan’s election commission in Kabul, according to a statement.

A suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest after getting near to the Independent Election Commission. One police officer died and six were wounded in the attack, which targeted IEC employees as they entered the building at 8:00 am local time.

Two other police officers as well as four election workers were those injured in Monday’s attack.

The attacker was “identified and gunned down by police before reaching his target”, Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid told reporters.

The ballot, which the Taliban had previously called a “vast American conspiracy” and vowed to attack, was marred by lengthy delays at polling centres, allegations of fraud and deadly violence.

Hundreds were killed or wounded in scores of attacks in the lead up to the 20 October vote.

IEC figures show roughly 4.2 million out of the nearly nine million people registered to vote actually cast a ballot.

More than 2,500 candidates, including mullahs, journalists and sons of warlords, competed for 249 seats in the lower house.

The IEC is scheduled to release preliminary results on 10 November.

The IEC’s chronic mishandling of the vote, which was three years late and largely funded by the international community, has all but dashed hopes it can competently organise the presidential ballot, scheduled for April.

Conflict is also driving the ability to carry out polls.

This year has already proved to be the deadliest in Afghanistan’s 17-year-war. Suicide bombs caused 2,343 civilian casualties so far, more than any other tactic, including ground fighting, according to a recent UN report.

Source: Alaraby