In Afghanistan, Attack Kills At Least 28
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
BAGHLAN, Afghanistan — A bomb attack struck a group of lawmakers yesterday as they were being greeted by children on a visit to a sugar factory in Afghanistan’s normally peaceful north. At least 28 people were killed, including five Parliament members as well as children.
President Karzai, who has America’s support, blamed the “the enemies of peace and security,” a euphemism often used for the Taliban. But the Taliban denied involvement.
The Ministry of Interior said at least 28 people were killed, one of the deadliest attacks of the year. But a doctor at Baghlan’s main hospital, Mohammad Yousuf Fayez, said more bodies may have been collected from the site by families and not counted in the official toll. Earlier, a government official said 64 people had died.
At least 42 of the 81 wounded were schoolchildren, Dr. Fayez said. It was unknown how many children were among the dead.
Shukria Barakzai, a lawmaker, said 18 of the 249 members of Afghanistan’s lower house of Parliament had traveled to Baghlan, and that 13 were dead or “in danger.” Mr. Karzai confirmed the deaths of five lawmakers. Police officers and officials from the Department of Agriculture were also among the dead.
