Head of Takhar’s Ulema Council killed in blast

KABUL (Tolo News): Mawlawi Abdul Samad Mohammadi, head of the northern Takhar province’s Ulema Council, was killed and three more were wounded in a magnetic IED blast on Wednesday afternoon, said Khalil Aseer, a spokesman for the provincial police chief. The incident occurred around 1:30 pm local time in Taluqan city, capital of the province, when a magnetic IED exploded against Mohammadi’s car, Aseer said.

“Three other people were wounded in the blast,” he said, adding that an investigation is ongoing. No group including the Taliban has claimed responsibility. President Ashraf Ghani in a statement condemned the blast in Balkh that targeted civilians, and also the assassination of Mohammadi. “Targeting religious scholars and killing civilians, especially children, is a crime against humanity and Islamic values, and shows that the Taliban does not believe in peace,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, at least two civilians including a child were killed and 16 others, including three soldiers, were wounded in a blast in Balkh district of Balkh province on Wednesday afternoon, said Adil Shah Adil, a spokesman for the provincial governor.

The blast occurred around 1:00 pm local time in the Bandar-e-Koloft area in the center of the district after a mine which was placed in a cart exploded in the area, said Adil. “The wounded have been taken to the hospital for treatment and most of them were wounded slightly,” he said. However, no group including the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the blast.

Moreover, Colonel Faridoon Fayaz, the commander of 203rd Thunder Corps’ central command, was killed in a Taliban ambush and one of his bodyguards was wounded on Wednesday morning, a military corps official confirmed.

The incident occurred on the Logar- Paktia highway while Col. Fayez was on his way to his office and the Taliban attacked his car, the officials said. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.