UNAMA condemns deadly IED attack in Kabul City

15 Jul 2014

UNAMA condemns deadly IED attack in Kabul City

KABUL - The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemns the deliberate attack on a civilian shuttle bus in Kabul City which killed two civilians and injured another five.

This morning, in the city’s Arzan Qimat area, the Taliban detonated a remote-controlled improvised explosive device (IED) against a shuttle bus carrying civilian government workers. The fatalities were a press officer and another staff member from the Directorate of the Presidential Administration.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on their website.

“This unlawful attack deliberately targeted civilians on their way to work,” said the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, Ján Kubiš. “Civilians should be able to go about their daily lives, including going to their place of work, without the risk of such horrific violence”.

UNAMA reiterates its calls on the Taliban to immediately cease directing attacks on civilians, stop the use of indiscriminate weapons and to halt attacks in civilian populated areas. It further highlights that the use of illegal, indiscriminate IEDs may amount to a war crime.

The UN Mission expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.

For the 2014 Mid-Year Protection of Civilians report in English