April 2016 Kabul attack
Part of War in Afghanistan (2001–present), Operation Omari
Kabul Kabul (Afghanistan)
Location	Kabul, Afghanistan
Coordinates	34°33′19″N 69°12′27″E / 34.5553°N 69.2075°E / 34.5553; 69.2075
Date	19 April 2016
Target	Government employees
Attack type	Mass murder, suicide bombing
Weapons	Bomb, guns
Deaths	69 (62; 7)†
Injured	367+ (347; 20+)†
Perpetrators	Taliban
† First number in brackets: primary attack Second number in brackets: attack on broadcaster

On the morning of 19 April 2016, Taliban militants attacked a security team responsible for protecting government VIPs in Kabul, Afghanistan. The initial attack killed 64 people and wounded 347. It was their biggest attack on an urban area since 2001.^[1][2][3]

Bombings

Local broadcaster TOLOnews reported that the attack involved a suicide bomber detonating a vehicle laden with "hundreds of kilograms of explosives" and the militants then making their way into the compound of "Department 10" of the National Directorate of Security (NDS)^[2] and opening fire. The bomb that detonated caused a ceiling to collapse in a classroom where elite intelligence officers were being trained. An Afghan security official said members of that unit accounted for about half of the people killed.^[4] The local broadcast station said that a two-hour gun battle ensued between the militants and security forces.^[5][6]

Developments

Sediq Sediqi, a spokesman for the Afghani Interior Ministry, said that despite the target, most of the victims were civilians.^[1] Ismail Kawasi, spokesman for the Public Health Ministry, said that 327 wounded have been brought to area hospitals.^[1] On 20 April 2016, Sediqi confirmed in a tweet that 64 "innocent Afghans" were killed and 347 wounded.^[7]

Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.^[6] He said as many as 92 security staff and soldiers were killed.^[2] It came after the group announced its annual spring offensive Operation Omari.^[6]

Reactions

Domestic

President Ashraf Ghani issued a statement saying that the attack proved that the Taliban were growing weak and therefore resorting to asymmetric warfare.^[1] Shortly after the attack, women's rights activist Wazhma Frogh wrote on Twitter that the attacks took place near schools and that parents were attempting to protect their children.^[6]

Some parliamentarians strongly condemned President Ashraf Ghani for failing to provide security from the terrorist attacks.^[4]

International

Supranational unions

• NATO: General John W. Nicholson Jr., commander of the Resolute Support Mission, said the attack was a sign of the Taliban's weakness.^[5][6]
• United Nations: the Security Council said that those involved should be brought to justice^[8]

Countries

• India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that his condolences and that his prayers were with those affected by the attacks.^[9][10]
• Turkey: Foreign Ministry statemented condemning the attack, they expressed condolences. In addition, they told they supported the Government of Afghanistan for the fight against terrorism.^[11]
• United States: White House spokesman Josh Earnest called for the Taliban to cease activities that harmed civilians, and to instead 'pursue a pathway of peace'.^[8] The Embassy of the United States, Kabul said the attack underscored the harm the Taliban continued to inflict on the Afghan people.^[2]