• Afghan security personnel investigate the site of the January 4 suicide attack in Kabul on January 5, 2018. Wakil Kohsar / AFP Photo
    Afghan security personnel investigate the site of the January 4 suicide attack in Kabul on January 5, 2018. Wakil Kohsar / AFP Photo
  • At least 11 people were killed and 25 injured in the attack. Wakil Kohsar / AFP Photo
    At least 11 people were killed and 25 injured in the attack. Wakil Kohsar / AFP Photo
  • The blast happened close to a group of security personnel who were carrying out an operation against illegal drugs and alcohol dealing. Omar Sobhani / Reuters
    The blast happened close to a group of security personnel who were carrying out an operation against illegal drugs and alcohol dealing. Omar Sobhani / Reuters
  • ISIL, which has claimed a series of attacks in Kabul over the past two years, issued a statement on its Amaq news agency saying it was responsible. Rahmat Gul /AP Photo
    ISIL, which has claimed a series of attacks in Kabul over the past two years, issued a statement on its Amaq news agency saying it was responsible. Rahmat Gul /AP Photo
  • Afghan security forces inspect the site of the suicide attack in Kabul. Omar Sobhani / Reuters
    Afghan security forces inspect the site of the suicide attack in Kabul. Omar Sobhani / Reuters
  • The attack happened days after a suicide bomber killed at least 41 people and wounded more than 80 at a Shi‘ite cultural centre in Kabul. Wakil Kohsar / AFP Photo
    The attack happened days after a suicide bomber killed at least 41 people and wounded more than 80 at a Shi‘ite cultural centre in Kabul. Wakil Kohsar / AFP Photo
  • Wahid Majroh, a spokesman for the ministry of public health, said 11 dead and 25 wounded had been brought to city hospitals after the blast in an area of the city not far from the U.S. Embassy and other foreign missions. Wakil Kohsar / AFP Photo
    Wahid Majroh, a spokesman for the ministry of public health, said 11 dead and 25 wounded had been brought to city hospitals after the blast in an area of the city not far from the U.S. Embassy and other foreign missions. Wakil Kohsar / AFP Photo

At least 11 dead as suicide bomber targets police in Kabul


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A suicide bomber in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, has killed at least 11 people and injured 25 others.

The blast happened close to a group of security personnel who were carrying out an operation against illegal drugs and alcohol dealing, officials said.

ISIL, which has claimed a series of attacks in Kabul over the past two years, issued a statement on its Amaq news agency saying it was responsible.

It said a suicide bomber targeting a group of police and intelligence service personnel had detonated an explosive vest, killing or wounding around 80 of them.

Wahid Majroh, a spokesman for the ministry of public health, said 11 dead and 25 wounded had been brought to city hospitals after the blast in an area of the city not far from the U.S. Embassy and other foreign missions.

As security forces arrived, a Reuters reporter saw four police vehicles carrying dead or wounded security personnel from the scene.

Police officers at the scene said the bomber had been wearing police or army uniform and had approached a group of security personnel conducting controls on illegal drugs and alcohol sellers, but there was no official confirmation.

“Kabul police forces were there to prevent a possible protest when a suicide bomber approached them and detonated his suicide vest,” Kabul police spokesman Bashir Mujahid said.

While Afghan forces backed by US air strikes have claimed some success against Taliban insurgents since the United States announced a stepped up military strategy last year, high profile attacks on civilian targets in Kabul have continued.

The attack happened days after a suicide bomber killed at least 41 people and wounded more than 80 at a Shi‘ite cultural centre in Kabul, underlining the precarious security situation in the Afghan capital.

That attack was also claimed by ISIL, which has claimed responsibility for a number of similar attacks in Afghanistan over the past two years.