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At least seven employees of Afghanistan’s private TV channel TOLONews were killed Wednesday when a suicide bomber targeted a van during rush hour in the capital of Kabul, close to the Russian embassy.
TOLO News, Afghanistan's first 24-hour news channel, has confirmed in a live news broadcast that six of their staff members were killed. The identity of the seventh fatality is unknown.
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Civilian Bus Targeted In Kabul Suicide Bombing https://t.co/tooy9opOU1 pic.twitter.com/BqlGSntcBq
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews)
January 20, 201
In a statement to Al-Jazeera, the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. At least 25 people were wounded in the bombing, including women and children, Ministry of Public Health spokesman Ismail Kawusi said.
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Abdullah Abdullah, the Chief Executive Officer of Afghanistan - an extra constitutional post created in 2014 following a dispute over the presidential elections - condemned the attack and said he had drawn up plans for more security. "I have also advised security forces to provide security for media outlets and journalists."
Unfortunately, in the terrorist attack today in Darulaman Road in Kabul, we lost 7 staff members.
— Lotfullah Najafizada (@LNajafizada)
January 20, 201
The bombing occurred on the same street where the Russian embassy is. Embassy spokesman Aleksey Kosarev said there were no casualties among the embassy staff.
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According to local reports, the Taliban openly threatened the channel in 2015 after it reported executions, rape, kidnappings and other abuses allegedly committed by Taliban militants during the battle for the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, where the group briefly seized control.
"No employee, anchor, office, news team and reporter of these TV channels holds any immunity," the Taliban said at the time, rejecting their reporting as propaganda by “Satanic networks”.
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Also, Wednesday's attack comes just two days after a second round of four-country negotiations involving Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States in Kabul. The negotiations are aimed at reviving talks with the Taliban. Kabul has seen at least six bomb attacks since the new year.
Driver on scene in #Darulaman attack #Kabul said he saw at least 8 bodies. said car was full of #TOLO TV employees pic.twitter.com/OEPVP3C0oX
— Ali M Latifi (@alibomaye)
January 20, 201
Analysts say that the Taliban’s recent attacks highlight its intent to capture more territory in the country in order to have greater negotiating power during peace talks.
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The Taliban ruled the country from 1991 until it was ousted by the U.S. invasion in 2003. The country has been in constant turmoil since then as the extremist group attempts to take control of the country once again.
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