ISIS terrorist group claims responsibility for the deadly Kabul procession bombing

The Islamic State (IS) militant group has claimed responsibility for a suicide attack near a procession in the Afghan capital commemorating the death of a revered resistance leader that killed at least seven people.

In the September 9 attack, a suicide bomber on a motorcycle blew himself, killing seven people and injuring 25 others, all civilians, officials said.

Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanekzai told RFE/RL that the blast occurred during a procession honoring former mujahedin commander Ahmad Shah Masud.

AFP reported that among the dead was the driver of a car taking part in the commemorations.

Hours earlier, Afghan security forces shot and killed a man they said was planning to blow himself up near supporters of Masud, who led resistance to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s and to Taliban rule from 1996-2001.

Masud, an ethnic Tajik, was assassinated ahead of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

Before the September 9 blast rocked Kabul, gunfire could be heard across the city as demonstrators fired automatic weapons to commemorate the 17th anniversary of Masud’s death.

Health Ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh said at least 13 people were wounded by falling bullets and taken to hospital.

Police arrested 110 people carrying weapons and firing aimlessly, and seized 20 cars, the Interior Ministry said.

The September 9 blast came four days after a twin bomb attack at a Kabul wrestling club killed more than 20 people.

Sunni-majority IS claimed responsibility for those bombings, which occurred in a predominately Shi’ite neighborhood.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, officials said more than 20 members of the Afghan security forces were reported killed on September 9.

Ten security personnel died and eight wounded during an hourslong gunbattle with militants in Wardak Province, near Kabul, provincial governor spokesman Abdul Rahman Mangal said.

“Air strikes were called in and over 50 Taliban fighters were killed” in the fighting in Daimirdad district, he added.

In the western province of Herat, attackers targeted a checkpoint in Obe district, killing nine members of the security forces, according to provincial governor spokesman Jailani Farhad.

Five others were wounded in the attack that ended when reinforcements were sent to the scene, Farhad said, adding that 15 militants were also killed.

And in northern Baghlan Province, five army soldiers were killed when militants attacked checkpoints, Defense Ministry spokesman Ghafor Ahmad Jawed said.

He added that reinforcements were being sent to the area.

The officials said the three attacks were carried out by the Taliban, though the militant group did not immediately comment on the assaults.

Afghan government forces have struggled to counter attacks from both the Taliban and the IS group since the withdrawal of most NATO combat troops in 2014.

The latest violence comes ahead of parliamentary elections next month and amid escalating tensions between ethnic groups in Afghanistan.

Source: RF