(MENAFN- NewsBytes)
Suicide attack on Kabul voter registration center kills four
22 Apr 2018
At least four people were killed, and 15 others were wounded after a suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd outside a voter registration center in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday.
The assaults underscore growing concerns about security in the lead up to legislative elections scheduled for October 20.
"It happened at the Center's entrance gate," said City Police chief Dawood Amin.
Center was used to register for national identification certificates
Casualties
The police chief said: "It was a suicide attack. There are casualties."
Health ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh said at least four people had been killed and 15 wounded.
Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish confirmed the death toll but put the number of wounded at 20.
The center was also being used by people to register for national identification certificates.
Attack happened in a heavily Shiite-populated neighborhood
The attack
The attack happened in a heavily Shiite-populated neighborhood in the city's west. TV footages showed pools of blood and shattered glass on the street.
Angry crowds shouted "Death to the government!" and "Death to the Taliban!" There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
Photos posted on social media purportedly of the site showed several bodies on the ground and a badly damaged two-story building.
The registration for voters started on April 14
Fact
Afghanistan began registering voters on April 14 for the long-delayed legislative elections. Election officials have acknowledged that security is a major concern as the Taliban and other militant groups control or contest large swathes of the country.
Afghan police and troops deployed to protecting polling centers
Polling centers
Afghan police and troops have been tasked with protecting polling centers, even as they struggle to get the upper hand against insurgents on the battlefield.
Militants on Friday launched rockets at a voter registration center in the northwestern province of Badghis.
At least one police officer was killed and another person was wounded, officials said, blaming the Taliban.
Three election workers and two policemen were kidnapped recently
Fact
On Tuesday gunmen attacked a voter registration center in the central province of Ghor, kidnapping three election workers and two policemen. Taliban militants released the five on Thursday.
Authorities hope to register up to 14 million adults
Details
Over the next two months, authorities hope to register up to 14 million adults at more than 7,000 polling centers for the parliamentary and district council elections.
Officials have been pushing people to register amid fears a low turnout will undermine the credibility of the polls.
President Ashraf Ghani last week urged religious leaders to use Friday prayers to encourage worshippers to sign up.
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