Afghanistan blast: Kabul bomb kills police chief, bodyguard

The force of the explosion flipped the car upside down, killing the city’s District 5 police chief, Mohammadzai Kochi, and his bodyguard.

Security personnel investigate a damaged armoured car at the site after multiple bomb blasts,  in Kabul on February 10, 2021.
AFP

Security personnel investigate a damaged armoured car at the site after multiple bomb blasts, in Kabul on February 10, 2021.

A chain of bomb explosions targeting Kabul police has killed a district police chief and his bodyguard, and also wounded five people, according to officials.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blasts on Wednesday, which were all caused by so-called sticky bombs, explosive devices attached to vehicles that are remotely detonated or set off by timers.

The largest of the attacks struck a police car in a western Kabul neighbourhood; the force of the blast was so strong that the car flipped upside down, killing the city's District 5 police chief, Mohammadzai Kochi, and his bodyguard. 

The driver of the car was wounded, according to two Afghan officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media.

Kabul police spokesperson Ferdaws Faramarz said an hour before that blast, two other sticky bomb explosions took place. 

One of them, about 500 metres (yards) away from where the police car was targeted, wounded four civilians. 

There were no casualties in the other blast, which took place elsewhere in Kabul.

READ MORE: Dozens killed in wave of attacks blamed on Taliban across Afghanistan

Spike in attacks

Afghanistan has seen a nationwide spike in bombings, targeted killings, and violence on the battlefield as peace negotiations in Qatar between the Taliban and the Afghan government have stalled.

Daesh group's local affiliate has claimed responsibility for some of the attacks, but many go unclaimed, with the government putting the blame on the Taliban. 

The insurgents have denied responsibility for most of the attacks.

READ MORE: The Taliban's varied suitors could spoil Biden's Afghanistan plans

Loading...

Ghazni air strike

In eastern Ghazni province, the provincial governor's spokesperson, Wahidullah Jumazada, said an air strike called in during fighting with the Taliban killed at least 22 insurgents, including foreign fighters in the group.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid immediately tweeted a denial, saying Afghan government forces were defeated in the fighting in Ghazni. 

He also claimed the Taliban have no foreign fighters in their ranks.

READ MORE: Biden administration to review Afghan peace deal as violence rises

Route 6