Suicide Attacker Kills 12 In Afghan Capital...

A suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowded pedestrian alley outside of the Interior Ministry in Kabul on September 30, killing at least 12 and wounding dozens, AP reported on October 1. The blast occurred near a busy security gate surrounded by shops and street photographers around 8 a.m. local time, as ministry officials arrived at work. The BBC reported that police challenged the attacker and began chasing him before he detonated the explosives as he tried to flee. A Health Ministry spokesman said that 54 people were injured in the blast, including two policemen, while an Interior Ministry spokesman put the casualty figure at 42. The blast is the second major attack in Kabul in September despite increased security in the Afghan capital. A Taliban spokesman has claimed responsibility for the attack. JC