Spike in targeted killings in Kabul causes concern

More than ten people have been assassinated in several targeted attacks by unknown armed men in Kabul city in the last two weeks, the Interior Ministry (MoI) said Wednesday.

According to the MoI, most of the attacks have been carried out in the PD5, PD12, and PD8 areas of the city.

The MoI has also recorded as many as 40 incidents of targeted attacks in Kabul in the last three months.

Ahmad Zia Zia, a Deputy Spokesman of the MoI, stated: “The security forces have arrested as many as 17 people [in connection with the incidents] and they have thwarted 30 IED explosions that were aimed at targeting civilians.”

Kabul Governor Mohammad Yaqub Haidari, meanwhile, stated that more than 500 people have been arrested in connection with targeted assassinations in Kabul.

Kabul residents have raised concerns of the surge in targeted attacks in Kabul.

In the latest incident, three policemen were killed by two assailants at the Kote Sangi area in PD5 of the city this week.

An eyewitness said the attackers drop guns on the ground and “calmly walk into public (groups of people) after the attack.”

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.