Iran slams suicide bombing in Afghanistan

TEHRAN, Apr. 19 (MNA) – Iran’s FM spokeswoman strongly condemned the Saturday suicide bombing in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad that left many innocents dead. Marzieh Afkham expressed her deepest grief over the death of the innocent Afghan civilians by suicide bomb attack in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad. Condemning the attack as inhuman and non-Islamic, Afkham noted “terrorism, extremism and endangering innocent lives are unjustified and unacceptable.” While stressing the need for cooperation among regional countries and the global community for fighting against terrorism and extremism, Afkham highlighted unity and solidarity among all ethnic groups as a necessary means to stop such atrocities. “Terrorist attacks seek spread of violence and instability in Afghanistan,” she said. At least 35 people have been killed and 125 more injured in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, following a series of attacks that President Ashraf Ghani blamed on terrorist groups linked to ISIL. Government employees were targeted in Saturday's attack - the worst in Afghanistan since November - which was thought to have been carried out by a suicide bomber on a bicycle or motorbike. Another blast took place near a shrine and municipality buildings, and bomb disposal experts detonated a third explosive device. Terrorist group ISIL has claimed responsibility for the attack.