Suicide bomber shot dead in Kabul

A suicide bomber was shot dead here on Monday while preparing to attack a blood donation camp, police said.

Kabul Police spokesman Hashmat Stanekzai told Efe news the incident took place in the Shahr-e Naw Park at around 11.30 a.m. when the attacker was heading towards a tent with medical personnel inside.

"The suicide bomber who arrived near the tent was identified by police and officers opened fire on him," Stanekzai said.

The camp was organised by the Ministry of Public Health to urge people to donate blood for victims of recent terrorist attacks in Kabul.

No group has claimed responsibility yet.

In recent months, insurgents and armed groups have carried out a number of attacks against medical personnel in Afghanistan.

Kabul has witnessed multiple suicide attacks this year. On April 30, 25 people including nine journalists were killed in a double suicide attack.

Also in April, a suicide attack on a voter registration centre, claimed by the Islamic State, killed at least 57 people and injured around 120.

The biggest attack of the year took place in January when the Taliban used an ambulance as a car bomb, detonating it in a central district of Kabul, killing more than 100 people.

--IANS

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