Suicide bomber targets Afghanistan election campaign rally in Nangarhar

Staff Writer With AFP October 2, 2018

1 minute read

At least 13 people were killed in a suicide attack on an Afghan election campaign rally on Tuesday, October 2, an official said, in the latest violence ahead of this month’s legislative vote.

At least 40 others were wounded, Najibullah Kamawa head of Nangarhar’s Health Department, told RFE/RL’s Afghanistan service Radio Azadi.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Preparations for Afghanistan’s long-delayed parliamentary vote, scheduled for October 20, have been marred by deadly violence.

Five candidates have been killed in attacks, according to the Independent Election Commission, and there are fears violence will escalate.

The Taliban and Islamic State have vowed to disrupt the election process, as they ramp up attacks across the country.

Last week three rockets hit the city of Ghazni during a visit by President Ashraf Ghani.

One of the rockets landed about 200 metres (660 feet) from the Ghazni governor’s office, where Ghani was holding meetings with security officials, religious leaders and members of civil society.