An Afghan man (right) cries at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul's diplomatic quarters Saturday. (Shah Marai / AFP - Getty Images)
Sep 08, 2012
A suicide bomber detonated explosives outside of NATO headquarters in Kabul killing six civilians including children on Saturday, according to NATO and local officials.
The bomber arrived at the gates of the NATO facility on his bicycle Saturday morning before detonating the bomb in the busy area. Afghan police say the bomber was 14 years old.
The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, but denies the bomber was a teenager.
Tensions are high in the city this week as NATO increased its security presence in the streets of Kabul ahead celebrations of the 11th anniversary of the death of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the hero of the 1980s war against Soviet forces, and opponent of the Taliban.
Saturday's bombing is only the latest in a spate of violence within the country, which spiked in the months of July and August, revealing continued insecurity in the war torn region.
Concerns of vulnerability to 'insider' and 'green on blue' attacks as well as a spike in suicide bombings in busy areas have brought attention to NATO's failed mission of improving security ahead of a planned withdrawal of foreign troops by the end of 2014.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
A suicide bomber detonated explosives outside of NATO headquarters in Kabul killing six civilians including children on Saturday, according to NATO and local officials.
The bomber arrived at the gates of the NATO facility on his bicycle Saturday morning before detonating the bomb in the busy area. Afghan police say the bomber was 14 years old.
The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, but denies the bomber was a teenager.
Tensions are high in the city this week as NATO increased its security presence in the streets of Kabul ahead celebrations of the 11th anniversary of the death of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the hero of the 1980s war against Soviet forces, and opponent of the Taliban.
Saturday's bombing is only the latest in a spate of violence within the country, which spiked in the months of July and August, revealing continued insecurity in the war torn region.
Concerns of vulnerability to 'insider' and 'green on blue' attacks as well as a spike in suicide bombings in busy areas have brought attention to NATO's failed mission of improving security ahead of a planned withdrawal of foreign troops by the end of 2014.
A suicide bomber detonated explosives outside of NATO headquarters in Kabul killing six civilians including children on Saturday, according to NATO and local officials.
The bomber arrived at the gates of the NATO facility on his bicycle Saturday morning before detonating the bomb in the busy area. Afghan police say the bomber was 14 years old.
The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, but denies the bomber was a teenager.
Tensions are high in the city this week as NATO increased its security presence in the streets of Kabul ahead celebrations of the 11th anniversary of the death of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the hero of the 1980s war against Soviet forces, and opponent of the Taliban.
Saturday's bombing is only the latest in a spate of violence within the country, which spiked in the months of July and August, revealing continued insecurity in the war torn region.
Concerns of vulnerability to 'insider' and 'green on blue' attacks as well as a spike in suicide bombings in busy areas have brought attention to NATO's failed mission of improving security ahead of a planned withdrawal of foreign troops by the end of 2014.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.