Suicide blast at Afghan Interior Ministry kills 6 police officers

[unhappycamper]

http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-afghanistan-attack-interior-ministry-20140402,0,6909858.story



Afghan men fill a local hall in Kabul as they congregate to listen to a presidential candidate.

Suicide blast at Afghan Interior Ministry kills 6 police officers
By Shashank Bengali and Hashmat Baktash
April 2, 2014, 8:50 a.m.

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A Taliban suicide bomber managed to get past a security checkpoint Wednesday and then blew himself up at the entrance to the Afghan Interior Ministry, killing six police officers on the last day of campaigning in this country’s closely watched presidential election.

The midafternoon bombing outside one of Kabul’s most heavily guarded government installations was the latest of several major attacks that have sown fear in the Afghan capital ahead of Saturday’s contest that will determine President Hamid Karzai’s successor.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said the bomber got through at least one checkpoint on foot and then detonated his explosives near a reception area where police officers and visitors regularly pass in and out of the complex. Four other police officers reportedly were injured.

The Interior Ministry initially said the bomber was wearing a military uniform, but Sediqqi said that information was unconfirmed.