Afghan valentines day attack

[Admin Khan]

Suicide attack scattered Valentine's Day gift buyers

KABUL (PAN): Masir, 21, was buying a Valentine’s Day gift for his girlfriend at a Kabul shopping centre when a suicide bomber struck, killing two guards and injuring two others.
"When the suicide attack happened, I had the gift in one hand and in the other I was writing an SMS to my girlfriend to pray for me," Masir said.
The attack, which happened at 2pm at the eastern gate of the upmarket Kabul City Centre in Shar-i-Naw on Monday, blew out several windows of the shops. Two guards were killed, but none of the dozens of shoppers inside were injured.
"If I was killed in the blast I would not mind, because I was not worried as it was Valentine's Day," said Masir, who added that he had bought a silver necklace, a bracelet and earrings for his girlfriend.
Valentine’s Day is celebrated around the world every Feb. 14. Traditionally, it is a day in which couples, friends and family express their love for each other, sending cards, flowers and chocolate.
In recent years, Valentine's Day had also been celebrated in some cities of Afghanistan. Masir said it was the second year he had celebrated the day.
Khalid Niazi, a shop owner at the City Centre, said that all his customers ran away when the suicide bomber struck. "We were busy with customers, when suddenly firing started, which also smashed windowpanes of all the shops," he said.
It was the second time the shopping mall had been attacked. Last year, up to 20 people, both Afghans and foreigners, were killed when suicide bombers struck two guesthouses nearby.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for Monday's attack, saying the target was foreign soldiers in the area. However, Abdul Aziz, who was in the same area when the blast occurred, said there were no foreigners there.
A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said four suicide attackers had entered the centre.
The attack was the second in the past two and a half weeks in the capital. On Jan. 28, a suicide bomber targeted a supermarket popular with foreigners in the diplomatic neighbourhood of Wazir Akbar Khan. That attack killed eight civilians and wounded 15 others.

Suicide attack scattered Valentine's Day gift buyers | Pajhwok Afghan News

[Laila]

Thank God he made it out alive.

[ScimitarXEdge]

I disapprove of people practicing Valentines day, but is it really worth killing or dying over? that's sick, ruining a life for an act that has only secondary relevance. Get real. how can this be an ideology to lead humanity?

[qunduz92]

i doubt the suicide bomber even knew what valentine's day is.

the media obviously just wants to make an attractive storyline. suicide bombings happen every other day in the country, when one of those every other days seems to fall on february 14th obtuse-minded people think there's a connection lol

[ScimitarXEdge]

yeah people always suicide bomb bazaars when people are buying Valentine's products ....that's an everyday occurrence across the country.

[ScimitarXEdge]

and if the target is "foreign soldiers" why dont they wait till civilians are out of harmsway???????????

these people should be condemned just for irresponsibility alone.

[randolph85]

i have stood at that very spot.