Kabul bus bomb kills 35 in worst attack since ousting of Taliban

The deadliest attack by militants since the ousting of the Taliban killed 35 people and wounded at least the same number yesterday when a bomb destroyed a bus packed with police recruits in Kabul.

The Taliban later claimed the explosion was the work of a suicide bomber but officials were still investigating whether that was the case or whether the device had been planted.

One of the wounded recounted how the bomb had exploded when the bus was close to the station. Khalid Mohammed Ali, who suffered injuries to his stomach and legs, said: "There were lots of policemen in the bus and the bomb was near the front. The top of the bus blew off and there were people screaming and shouting. I felt something hot and a pain in my stomach. Then I saw blood on my right leg and there was a hole there."

Amir Nasrullah, 38, a shopkeeper said: "I first heard a roaring noise then I saw the bus was on fire. I saw one man with his arm hanging off but he was still alive. There were two others who looked dead."

If it is confirmed that the blast was a suicide bombing, it would be the fifth in Afghanistan in three days, adding to fears that a phenomenon previously unheard of in the country is growing in popularity.

A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, told the Associated Press that the suicide attack was carried out by a Taliban recruit called Mullah Asim Abdul Rahman, a 23-year-old from Kabul province.

Officials said at least 22 of the dead were police recruits and that two Pakistanis, two Japanese and one Korean national were among the wounded.

Nasir Ahmad, 22, who wa sitting in the back of the bus when the bomb exploded shortly after 8am local time, said: "There were between 30 to 40 police instructors in the bus."

Three coalition troops and their translator were also killed in Kandahar province yesterday when a roadside bomb struck their military vehicle. The nationalities of the troops has not yet been released.

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