Norway condemns suicide attack in Afghanistan
Historical archive
Published under: Solberg's Government
Publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press release | Date: 15/07/2014 | Last updated: 16/07/2014
Almost 100 people are believed to have been killed and many more injured in a suicide attack at a market in Afghanistan on 15 July. ‘This was a gruesome and totally unacceptable attack, which killed and maimed civilians in a public place. Norway has been in contact with the Afghan authorities and we have expressed our deepest condolences to the many victims and their families,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.
Almost 100 people are believed to have been killed and many more injured in a suicide attack at a market in Afghanistan on 15 July. ‘This was a gruesome and totally unacceptable attack, which killed and maimed civilians in a public place. Norway has been in contact with the Afghan authorities and we have expressed our deepest condolences to the many victims and their families,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.
The attack took place near a busy market in the Paktika province in south-eastern Afghanistan. According to the Afghan authorities, many of those killed were women and children. Police officers from the national Afghan police are also believed to be among the dead.
The attack was carried out against an alarming backdrop of rising civilian losses in Afghanistan. According to a recent UN report, the number of civilians killed and injured rose by 24 % in the first six months of 2014.
‘I am deeply concerned about the violence and the attacks that are affecting so many civilians in Afghanistan. Once the new political leadership is established, it will be of crucial importance for them to take proper steps to address the security problems in the country,’ said the Foreign Minister.