Top Female MP Survives Afghan Suicide Bomber

Shukria Barakzai slightly injured in assassination attempt that kills 3
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 16, 2014 11:33 AM CST
Top Female MP Survives Afghan Suicide Bomber
Afghan security forces inspect the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. A suicide bomber tried to assassinate Shukria Barakzai, a prominent female member of Afghanistan's parliament.   (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

A suicide bomber tried to assassinate a prominent female member of Afghanistan's parliament today, killing three people and wounding the lawmaker, a senior official said. Shukria Barakzai was slightly wounded in the attack on her vehicle as she was heading to parliament, said Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi. Another three people, including a young girl, were killed, he said. Earlier, the ministry's deputy spokesman Najib Danish said at least a dozen others were wounded.

The attacker was in a car that attempted to ram Barakzai's vehicle. The assailant then detonated explosives, causing a massive blast that was heard across the capital, Sediqqi said. Interior Minister Mohammad Umar Daudzai visited Barakzai at the hospital, Sediqqi said, adding that her driver was also wounded and hospitalized. Barakzai, 42, is a high-profile advocate of women's rights and media freedom. She has been a member of parliament for 10 years and her work has been recognized internationally with a number of awards. The Taliban last week made a similar assassination attempt against Kabul's chief of police Gen. Mohammad Zahir Zahir. (More suicide bombing stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X