Four killed in guesthouse suicide attack in Kabul as police chief resigns amid rises in deadly violence

South African head of an international aid group, his two children and an Afghan were killed in the deadly attack

Kabul’s police chief has resigned, as attacks by Afghan militants continue to rise, with the latest victims known to be the South African head of an international aid group, his two children, and an Afghan citizen in a suicide attack

Police chief General Mohammed Zahir told reporters the four were killed in a Taliban attack on Saturday, revising an earlier death toll from three to four. He gave no ages for the children and he did not identify the organisation the man worked for.

The attack was made on a guesthouse in Afghanistan’s capital that is used by aid workers.

The Taliban militants are understood to have launched an assault on the building, with one exploding a suicide bomb vest and the other two later killed in a shootout with police.

Zahir said one of the three attackers wore a police uniform.

It is the second in as many days on guesthouses occupied by foreigners and the third such attack in the past 10 days.

In recent days four foreigners, including a British embassy employee, were killed and dozens of Afghan civilians killed and wounded, while the capital has seen eight deadly suicide attacks made over the past weeks.

The BBC reported that Zahir himself was the target of an attack in early November. During the attack, in which his deputy was killed, Zahir was not present in the building, a suicide bomber had managed to get into his offices, which are thought to be some of the most secure buildings in the capital, to carry out the attack.

Zahir’s spokesman, Hashmat Stanikzai, later confirmed the police chief had resigned his post. He did not provide any further details.

A Redlands, California-based group called Partnership in Academics and Development later posted a notice on its website saying several of its staffers died during an attack in Kabul on Saturday, though attempts to contact the organisation by journalists were unsuccessful.

The message posted on its site read: “We are caring for all staff and their families as they grieve the loss of their friends and co-workers and nurse the wounded,” the statement read.

“Our thoughts are with the survivors and their families as they grieve the loss of life. Their selfless sacrifice for the people of Afghanistan is an inspiration to all.”

Additional reporting by PA