Turkey condemns twin suicide attacks in Kabul

ANKARA

Turkey strongly condemned the twin suicide bomb attacks on Tuesday which killed at least 23 people and injured dozens in the heart of the Afghan capital Kabul.

“We strongly condemn the terrorist attack which targeted even staff members of the parliament, which represents the will of the people of Afghanistan. We wish God's mercy upon those who lost their lives, a speedy recovery to those wounded, and we send condolences to the Afghan Government and our brother Afghan people,” said a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement Tuesday.

The statement emphasized that Turkey will continue to stand in solidarity with the "friendly and brother" Afghan people.

The country’s top spy agency National Directorate of Security (NDS) was the target of this attack. Ahmad Wali, director of the Afghan police in the district 7 where the attack took place, has said a mini-bus carrying employees of the spy agency NDS was the target.

The attack took place in the southern part of the city near the historic Darul Aman palace. An Afghan female member of the parliament Rahima Jami is also believed to be among those wounded in this attack. Dr. Saleem Rasuli, an official at the Ministry of Health, has told Anadolu Agency 23 people died and at least 20 more were wounded in the attack.

According to the eye witnesses, at first a lone suicide attacker on foot detonated his explosives, and minutes later a car laden with explosives exploded, which caused most of the damage.

*Reporting by Ecenur Colak; Writing by Hatice Kesgin