Taliban suicide bomber kills at least 24 at Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s campaign rally
- The violence, which also saw 22 killed in Kabul, comes 11 days before Afghanistan faces presidential elections that the Taliban vehemently oppose
Ghani, who is seeking a second five-year term in this month’s presidential elections, was due to address a rally in Charikar, the capital of central Parwan province, when a bomber attacked the gathering.
The blast killed 24 people and wounded 31, said Abdul Qasim Sangin, head of Parwan’s provincial hospital.
The violence comes as Afghanistan faces presidential elections on September 28 – a vote the Taliban vehemently oppose. The insurgent group has warned Afghans not to vote in the election, and said their fighters would target election campaigns as well as polling stations.
In Tuesday’s attack in northern Parwan province, the bomber rammed his motorcycle packed with explosives into the entrance of the venue where Ghani was campaigning on the outskirts of Charakar.