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Afghanistan

Afghan Intelligence Arrests 'Would-Be Suicide Bomber' As Kabul Protest Continues

A photo published by the Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security on its Facebook page showing Sayed Rahman, a man they say planned to detonate explosives at the funeral of an antigovernment protester in Kabul.
A photo published by the Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security on its Facebook page showing Sayed Rahman, a man they say planned to detonate explosives at the funeral of an antigovernment protester in Kabul.

Afghanistan's intelligence agency says it has arrested a would-be suicide bomber who planned to detonate his explosives at the funeral of an antigovernment protester in Kabul.

At least seven people were killed on June 3 when three suicide bombers blew themselves up at the funeral of Salem Izadyar, the son of a senator and one of the five victims of the deadly clashes between police and protesters a day earlier.

Deadly antigovernment protests erupted after the May 31 morning rush-hour bombing in Kabul that killed at least 90 people and wounded more than 460, most of them civilians.

Police have locked down much of Kabul city, with armed checkpoints and armored vehicles patrolling the streets, although several dozen protesters on June 4 continued a peaceful sit-in near the blast site.

The demonstrators have called for the resignation of the national unity government, which has failed to curb deadly militant attacks in the capital.

The National Directorate of Security (NDS), the country’s main intelligence agency, said in a statement on June 4 that it had arrested a fourth suicide bomber who failed to detonate his explosives at the funeral in Kabul.

The NDS published a photo of Sayed Rahman, the failed suicide bomber, on their Facebook page.

The intelligence agency said the suicide bombers had all hidden explosives in their shoes and had been trained at the Mawlawi Ahmad madrasah, or religious school, in the southwest Pakistani city of Quetta.

The NDS has also blamed the Kabul bombing on May 31, the deadliest in the city since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, on the Pakistan-based Haqqani network, which is allied to the Afghan Taliban.

PHOTO GALLERY: Massive Blast Hits Kabul's Embassy District (click on gallery to open)

Massive Blast Hits Kabul's Embassy District

The blast was so large that more than 30 vehicles were either destroyed or damaged.<br /> &nbsp;
1/13 The blast was so large that more than 30 vehicles were either destroyed or damaged.
 
At least 80 people were killed and more than 350 were wounded in a powerful explosion in the center of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on May 31, Afghanistan's Health Ministry says.
The explosion shattered windows, blew doors off their hinges in houses hundreds of meters away, and sent plumes of black smoke spiraling over the city center.<br /> &nbsp;
2/13 The explosion shattered windows, blew doors off their hinges in houses hundreds of meters away, and sent plumes of black smoke spiraling over the city center.
 
At least 80 people were killed and more than 350 were wounded in a powerful explosion in the center of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on May 31, Afghanistan's Health Ministry says.
A man who was injured in the blast leaves the scene after getting first aid.
3/13 A man who was injured in the blast leaves the scene after getting first aid.
At least 80 people were killed and more than 350 were wounded in a powerful explosion in the center of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on May 31, Afghanistan's Health Ministry says.
An Afghan man reacts at the site of the blast.
4/13 An Afghan man reacts at the site of the blast.
At least 80 people were killed and more than 350 were wounded in a powerful explosion in the center of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on May 31, Afghanistan's Health Ministry says.
Afghan men provide assistance to the wounded.
5/13 Afghan men provide assistance to the wounded.
At least 80 people were killed and more than 350 were wounded in a powerful explosion in the center of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on May 31, Afghanistan's Health Ministry says.
An injured woman sits outside a hospital awaiting treatment.
6/13 An injured woman sits outside a hospital awaiting treatment.
At least 80 people were killed and more than 350 were wounded in a powerful explosion in the center of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on May 31, Afghanistan's Health Ministry says.
An injured man is taken to a hospital.
7/13 An injured man is taken to a hospital.
At least 80 people were killed and more than 350 were wounded in a powerful explosion in the center of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on May 31, Afghanistan's Health Ministry says.
A vehicle that was damaged in the blast is removed from the scene.
8/13 A vehicle that was damaged in the blast is removed from the scene.
At least 80 people were killed and more than 350 were wounded in a powerful explosion in the center of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on May 31, Afghanistan's Health Ministry says.
A damaged vehicle is removed from the scene.
9/13 A damaged vehicle is removed from the scene.
At least 80 people were killed and more than 350 were wounded in a powerful explosion in the center of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on May 31, Afghanistan's Health Ministry says.
Damaged cars are seen at the site of the blast.
10/13 Damaged cars are seen at the site of the blast.
At least 80 people were killed and more than 350 were wounded in a powerful explosion in the center of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on May 31, Afghanistan's Health Ministry says.
Afghan officials inspect outside the damaged German Embassy.
11/13 Afghan officials inspect outside the damaged German Embassy.
At least 80 people were killed and more than 350 were wounded in a powerful explosion in the center of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on May 31, Afghanistan's Health Ministry says.
Injured Afghans run from the site of the blast.
12/13 Injured Afghans run from the site of the blast.
At least 80 people were killed and more than 350 were wounded in a powerful explosion in the center of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on May 31, Afghanistan's Health Ministry says.
Afghan volunteers bring the body of a resident killed in the attack to the Wazir Akbar Khan hospital.
13/13 Afghan volunteers bring the body of a resident killed in the attack to the Wazir Akbar Khan hospital.
At least 80 people were killed and more than 350 were wounded in a powerful explosion in the center of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on May 31, Afghanistan's Health Ministry says.
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No group has so far claimed responsibility for the two deadly attacks in Kabul, with the Taliban denying any involvement.

The attacks were the latest in a long series of high-profile militant attacks that have killed hundreds of civilians in Afghanistan since most international forces left the country in 2014.

In the first three months of the year at least 715 civilians were killed across the country, after almost 3,500 last year -- the deadliest on record for Afghan civilians.

The uptick in violence comes as U.S. and coalition officials are working on plans that are expected to bring about an increase of between 3,000 and 5,000 in the number of foreign troops in Afghanistan.

With reporting by Tolo News and Khaama
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