Taliban Attack on German Consulate in Afghanistan Results in 2 Deaths and 100 Injuries

A powerful Taliban truck bomb struck the German consulate in Afghanistan’s northern Mazar-i-Sharif city, killing at least two people and wounding more than 100 in a major militant assault in the war-torn country. The Taliban called it a “revenge attack” for United States airstrikes in the volatile province of Kunduz earlier this month that left up to 32 civilians dead. The huge explosion, followed by sporadic gunfire, reverberated across the usually tranquil city on Thursday, smashing windows of nearby shops and leaving terrified local residents fleeing for cover. German officials held a crisis meeting in Kabul, with Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier convening a meeting at his Ministry. At least two dead bodies and more than 100 wounded people — including at least 10 children — had so far been brought to two city hospitals, said local doctor Noor Mohammad Fayez. Some of the wounded are in a critical condition, he added. The carnage underscores worsening insecurity in Afghanistan as Taliban insurgents ramp up nationwide attacks despite repeated government attempts to jumpstart stalled peace negotiations. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the “martyrdom attack” on the German consulate had left “tens of invaders” dead.

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