SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Several rockets hit residential areas in the early rush hour in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday, killing at least eight civilians, according to police officials.
Reuters said the blast, close to the diplomatic enclave, sent warning sirens blaring from embassies and it comes two days before a major donor conference for Afghanistan in Geneva.
Spokesman for Afghan interior ministry Tariq Arian said at least eight civilians had been killed 31 others wounded after 14 rockets hit the city of Kabul.
A health official, however, said five bodies and 21 injured were taken to the hospital from the incident, Reuters reported.
Arian said “terrorists” mounted the rockets in a small truck and set them off, adding that the investigation is going on to find out how the vehicle came inside the city.
Taliban insurgents, fighting against a foreign-backed Kabul administration, denied involvement in the attack.
“The rocket attack in Kabul city has nothing to do with the mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate,” AFP cited Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid as saying, using the insurgents’ name for Afghanistan.
“We do not blindly fire on public places.”
Recent big attacks in Kabul, including two horrific assaults on educational institutions that killed nearly 50 people in recent weeks, follow a familiar pattern in the aftermath, with the Taliban denying any involvement while the Afghan government pins the blame on them or their proxies.
*This story was updated at 03:50 p.m. EBL time
