A Taliban suicide attack struck a police convoy outside the Afghan capital of Kabul on Thursday, killing at least 30 people and wounding 50, according to media reports.
A convoy of buses carrying new officers from a graduation ceremony were struck by two bombs, the BBC reported. The Associated Press reported that 30 were killed in the bombings, citing Mousa Rahmati, the district governor of Paghman.
The Taliban claimed responsibility, according to Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews and the AP.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said a suicide bomber on foot targeted a bus carrying trainee policemen and their instructors before a car bomber attacked 20 minutes later when police arrived to help, the AP reported.
“The Taliban have once again shown their total disregard for human life. Their increased use of improvised explosive devises are taking a very heavy toll on the Afghan people,” said Brig. Gen. Charles Cleveland, a spokesman for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan.
“The Taliban’s attacks are the leading cause of civilian casualties in Afghanistan. We strongly condemn the actions of Afghanistan’s enemies and remain firmly committed to supporting our Afghan partners and the National Unity Government."
