Kabul (AsiaNews/Agencies) – A suicide bomb attack early this morning near a bridge under construction in Kabul killed nine people, seriously wounding 12 others. Among the victims were six children on their way home from a nearby school.
The explosion took place at 9.52 local time, 6.22 in Italy. The bomber who was on foot, detonated himself in Pagman valley, which lies 20 kilometres north west of Kabul, during the opening ceremony of a bridge rebuilt by an Italian military contingent.
According to eye witnesses the bomber made his way onto the bridge by climbing up the banks of the river. Italian soldiers patrolling the ceremony saw him and stopped him: their actions prevented the man from exploding himself in the midst of the crowd, and of claiming an even higher death toll.
This year alone there have been over 130 suicide attacks in the country, the highest number since the Taliban were defeated over six years ago. Most of these attacks target foreign military present on the territory, but recently violent attacks have also sought out Non governmental organisations who are collaborating in the rebuilding process.