At least six people, including the second secretary and a guard, were killed in Monday’s attack on the Russian embassy in Afghanistan, the Russian commission of inquiry said on the basis of preliminary information about the suicide attack.
In addition to the two Russian embassy staff, at least four other people of Afghan nationality were killed and 11 others injured..
“On September 5, 2022, an explosive device was detonated near the consular section of the Russian embassy in Kabul (…). According to preliminary data, the second secretary and an embassy guard were killed in the attack,” the president said. from the Kremlin-affiliated institution, Alexandr Bastrikin.
Previously, the foreign ministry had only indicated that two Russian embassy employees in Kabul had been killed in the attack, but without details of positions.
The suicide bombing occurred when the explosive-laden attacker was discovered and killed by Taliban security forces near the compound..
According to the police spokesman, “the suicide bomber was killed by security forces and that was when the explosion happened.”
The Taliban said their security forces are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and will “take more serious measures for the security of the embassy”.
So far, no armed group has claimed responsibility for the attack, although the “jihadist” Islamic State group is often behind these attacks, becoming the biggest threat since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan a year ago..
Russia condemns attack on Kabul embassy, demands prosecution of those responsible
Russia condemned the terrorist attack in Kabul and demanded the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the incident.
“This is an attack. We categorically condemn this type of terrorist act. The most important thing now is to get information from the scene of the facts about what happened to our representatives, to our diplomats.”said Dmitri Peskov at the traditional daily press conference.
“We are talking about an act of terrorism, which is absolutely unacceptable,” said Dmitry Peskov.
For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he had information that the attack was carried out by “a terrorist who detonated an explosive device” at the entrance to the consular section of the Russian embassy in Kabul, killing two people. the officials fell. of the diplomatic mission.
“Measures were immediately taken to strengthen the protection of the outer perimeter” of the embassy, Lavrov added at the entrance of a meeting with his Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin.
The head of Russian diplomacy added that in addition to the Russian security forces associated with the embassy, military personnel from the Taliban authorities and Afghan secret services were also present.
“We believe that those responsible for this terrorist attack and those responsible will soon receive the punishment they deserve,” Lavrov said.
Russia was one of the first and few countries to advocate rapprochement with the Taliban, despite the fact that they are not recognized by the international community.
Although Moscow has not officially recognized the fundamentalist regime either – it is considered a terrorist group in Russia – it is one of the few countries to keep its diplomatic service active in Afghanistan.
Source: DN
