in update
The Russian embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, was attacked by a suicide bomber on Monday. The man blew himself up near the building’s entrance and was shot and killed by authorities.
Six people were killed and at least ten were injured, according to Reuters. Among the fatalities, two were members of the embassy. Police station chief Mawlawi Sabir said in a statement that “the suicide bomber was recognized and shot by Russian (Taliban) embassy guards.”
The Taliban said its security agencies were conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and “will take more serious measures for the security of the embassy.”
The head of the Russian Investigative Committee ordered the opening of a criminal case for the death of the two officials in the Afghan capital, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement and the Afghan police forces, “in order to identify to all those involved in the crime.”
The Kremlin condemned the attack, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for the attackers to be found and brought to justice in the “near future”.
So far no armed group has claimed responsibility for the attack, although the Islamic State ‘jihadist’ group is often behind these attacks, becoming the main threat since the return to power of the Taliban in Afghanistan a year ago.
Russia is one of the few countries that maintained an embassy in the Afghan capital after the Taliban seized power last year. Although Moscow does not officially recognize the new regime, negotiations have begun with officials of the new regime with a view to reaching an agreement for the supply of gasoline and other goods.
Source: Observadora
