Suicide bomber attack an audotorium packed with people watching a drama condemning suicide attacks

A teenaged bomber today targeted a Kabul auditorium packed with people watching a drama condemning suicide attacks that was being staged at a French cultural center.  The blast killed at least one person and injured not less than 16 people.

The suicide blast was the second to strike the Afghan capital in a day.  Earlier today, six Afghan soldiers perished when their bus was hit on the outskirts of the city.

 

The violence, part of a nationwide campaign by Islamist Taliban insurgents to strike at military and civilian targets, came less than three weeks before the year-end deadline for most foreign combat soldiers to withdraw from the country.

Deputy Interior Minister General Ayoub Salangi said the suspected theatre bomber appeared to have been about 17 years old.

An Afghan right activists who was at the auditorium stated, "I heard a deafening explosion ... There were Afghans, foreigners, young girls and young boys watching the show,"

He said the blast came during a performance of a new play called "Heartbeat: Silence After the Explosion", a condemnation of suicide attacks.

"Pieces of flesh were plastered on the wall. There were children and women crying for help. Some were running out, some were just screaming."

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the bomber targeted the event because it was staged "to insult Islamic values and spread propaganda about our jihad operations, especially on suicide attacks". 

The person who died during the attack is said to be a foreigner.  Kabul Chief of Police said the venue was highly guarded and added that the bomber may have hidden the explosives in his underwear to pass through security