Afghanistan: Suicide bombing kills six people in Jalalabad December 3

Event

A motorcycle-borne suicide bomb attack killed at least six people and wounded 13 others in Jalalabad (Nangarhar province) on Sunday, December 3, according to local officials. The bomber reportedly detonated his explosive charge around 13:30 (local time) in the PD-1 area of the city near Sherzai Stadium, where a pro-government rally took place earlier on Sunday.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack; the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) group is active in Nangarhar province, and has recently carried out deadly attacks in the area. Additional militant attacks are possible in Jalalabad in the coming weeks.

Context

Sunday's suicide bombing in Jalalabad comes a day after an IS-KP-claimed attack killed at least two members of the Afghan security forces and wounded at least ten others in Jalalabad.

IS-KP has perpetrated several other attacks in Afghanistan in recent weeks, notably a suicide bombing that killed at least 18 people, including eight police officers, and wounded several more in the Khair Khana Mina neighborhood of Kabul on November 16. Additionally, IS-KP militants carried out a suicide bombing that killed at least seven people and wounded 21 others in the Wazir Akhbar Khan (Green Zone) area of Kabul on October 31.

Advice

Due to major security concerns, individuals throughout Afghanistan are urged to keep a safe distance from large gatherings, military convoys, government buildings, and crowded urban areas.

Many Western governments advise their citizens against travel to Afghanistan due to the high threat of kidnapping and terrorism, including frequent attacks against Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, local civilians and politicians, and individuals working in the humanitarian and reconstruction fields. Travel to the country should only be undertaken with proper security protocols in place.