According to latest reports, at least 21 individuals lost their lives, with several others sustaining injuries in a suicide blast outside a bank in Afghanistan’s Kandahar city on Thursday. However, local police provided conflicting figures, stating a death toll of three and 12 injured.
The blast predominantly targeted civilians who had gathered outside the bank for cash withdrawals, as stated by the Kandahar police department in an official statement.
“A suicide attack occurred in which three compatriots were killed and 12 others were wounded,” an official informed, emphasizing that the victims were civilians, typically there to collect their salaries.
As per information provided by a doctor, the deceased and approximately 50 injured individuals were conveyed to Mirwais Hospital, which stands as the largest medical facility in the region.
While Afghanistan’s capital is Kabul, Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada resides in Kandahar city, located in the southern province of the same name, which serves as the birthplace of the Taliban movement.
The Taliban authorities had cordoned off the area outside the bank, limiting access to journalists. However, witnesses observed what appeared to be unconscious individuals or deceased bodies being loaded into ambulances following the explosion.
Efforts by firefighters and security personnel were focused on clearing the area, where remnants of the blast, including bloodstains, torn clothing, and scattered shoes, marked the scene.
Requests for information made to hospitals were met with silence, as they had reportedly been instructed not to engage with the media.
Despite a notable decline in bomb blasts and suicide attacks since the Taliban assumed power in August 2021, following the ousting of the US-backed government, various armed groups, including the regional faction of Daesh, continue to pose a threat.
While numerous explosions have been reported across Afghanistan since the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on March 11, Taliban officials have confirmed few incidents.
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