Public protection force spokesman killed in blast

KABUL (TOLOnews): Three people were killed–including Zia Wadan, a spokesman for the Public Protection Force–in an explosion in Kabul city on Sunday morning, the Interior Ministry confirmed.

The blast occurred around 8:30am local time in the Kart-e-Naw area of PD8 in Kabul city.

“Zia Wadan and two of his colleagues were killed and another person was wounded,” said the statement, adding: “It happened while Wadan was on his way to the office.” Earlier, a security source said that three people were killed and two were wounded.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, but the Interior Ministry in today’s statement blamed the Taliban.

Pajhwok adds: President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday vehemently condemned the magnetic bomb blast in which spokesman for National Public Protection Forces was killed along with two other individuals in Kabul.

In a statement, Presidential Palace said that President Ghani condemned the blast took place this morning in Kart-i-Naw area of Kabul and resulted in killing three people, including Zia Wadan, spokesman for NPPF.

President Ghani said targeting patriotic, committed and dedicated personalities was a crime against humanity and Islamic values.

“The spike in violence by the Taliban is against spirit of commitment for peace and indicates that the group still pursues their hawkish attitude to take innocent lives and damage public facilities,” he added.

The president ordered the relevant authorities to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

He also offered his deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased and wished speedy recovery for those who sustained injuries, the statement concluded.