Four die as suicide bomber targets intelligence chief

At least four people were killed when a suicide bomber exploded himself near a top Afghan intelligence official in Kabul today.

The bomber apparently targeted the investigations chief of Afghanistan’ intelligence service, said deputy police chief Gen. Zulmay Khan.

The explosion went off near Kabul’s main market place, killing four people and injuring 12, Afghanistan’s intelligence service said. No members of the intelligence service were hurt or killed.

Kamulladeen Khan Echekzai, the apparent target, is a powerful Afghan elder from the southern city of Kandahar, the Taliban’s former power base when it ruled Afghanistan from 1996-2001.

An intelligence official said authorities believed Echekzai was targeted because he knew details of top Taliban leaders suspected of operating from Pakistan.

The attack in Kabul came one day after a suicide bomber disguised in an army uniform blew himself up outside a police station in Helmand province, killing four police.