Afghanistan: Toll in multiple Taliban attacks rises to 71, at least 170 injured
In both Gardez and Ghazni, bombers first blew up vehicles full of explosives and then stormed security buildings with guns.
The toll in Tuesday’s suicide and gun attacks in Afghanistan has risen to at least 71, AFP reported. At least 170 people were injured in two separate strikes on the police and soldiers in the country.
The Taliban had claimed responsibility for the attacks in Gardez and Ghazni. The two strikes were carried out using similar methods – bombers first blew up a truck and Humvee full of explosives and then stormed the buildings with guns.
The more deadly assault was a coordinated attack on the police in Gardez in Paktia province. At least 41 people were killed and 158 were injured, Afghanistan’s Interior Affairs Ministry said.
Another ambush in the neighbouring Ghazni province left 25 security officials and five civilians dead. Deputy Interior Minister Murad Ali Murad told AP that Tuesday’s attacks were the biggest this year. Ghazni Police chief Mohammad Zaman said “dozens of Taliban” were killed in the strike.
The attacks are the latest in a series of assaults on security installations – a military hospital in Kabul was targeted in March and 100 people were killed, and a devastating attack on a base in Mazar-i-Sharif had left 144 people dead.
