KABUL - The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemns the killing of at least twelve civilians, included ten children, in a suicide attack in the central province of Parwan today.

The attack also seriously injured six children, a woman and a man, and killed four members of the international military forces and two Afghan policemen.

The attack reportedly took place in the Qalandarkhail area of the province’s Bagram district with a suicide bomber detonating an explosive-rigged bicycle near a foot patrol of Afghan National Police and international military forces. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on their website today.

“A suicide attack amongst a group of children is beyond horrific" said the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, Ján Kubiš. “I reiterate UNAMA’s repeated calls to the Taliban to immediately ban the use of indiscriminate weapons and to cease attacks in civilian populated areas.”

The UN Mission reiterates that an indiscriminate attack may amount to a grave breach of international humanitarian law which parties to the armed conflict must uphold.

UNAMA expresses its condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery for the injured.