One week after Canadian troops withdrew from Afghanistan, the Taliban attacked national security forces in the eastern city of Jalalabad, reports BBC.
Taliban fighters killed at least 10 police officers and wounded 14 more. Police shot down and killed seven Taliban fighters wearing suicide bomb vests. One civilian died in the crossfire.
The attack began on the morning of Mar. 20 when insurgents detonated a car bomb, which shook the ground, broke nearby shop and home windows and set surrounding buildings on fire. The insurgents then stormed Jalalabad’s main police station and the gun battle continued for hours.
According to the BBC, the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message sent to the media. The terrorist organization was likely aiming to cause civilian fear and unrest before the presidential elections scheduled for April 5.
A similar incident occurred on Mar. 18 in a northern Afghanistan bazaar, reports the New York Times. A suicide bomber detonated explosives in a rickshaw, which killed the bomber and at least 16 people.
