Kabul Bank Suicide Bombing - Nangarhar (2015)

Incident

District geolocation of incident

Latitude: 34.4552967856833

Longitude: 70.4518092111804

Types of incident

Conflict parties

Alleged types of crimes

War crime: Attacking civilian objects
War crime: Attacking civilians
War crime: Destroying or seizing the enemy’s property
War crime: Destruction and appropriation of property
War crime: Employing prohibited weapons, projectiles, materials or methods of warfare
War crime: Excessive incidental death, injury, or damage
War crime: Use of mines against civilians
Other Crimes : Attacking civilians
Other Crimes : Causing serious bodily or mental harm
Other Crimes : Killing

Regime in place

Summary of incident: Date: April 18, 2015

Location: Kabul Bank branch, Jalalabad City, Nangarhar Province

Victims:

Thirty-two civilians killed

One hundred twenty-six civilians injured (including five children)

Extensive damage to vehicles, shops, and businesses

Perpetrators: Islamic State initially claimed then later denied responsibility

Incident Type: Body-Borne Improvised

Explosive Device (BB-IED) suicide attack

Narrative:

On April 18, 2015, a suicide attacker wearing an Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) uniform detonated a Body-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (BB-IED) outside a branch of Kabul Bank in Jalalabad City, Nangarhar Province. The attack occurred after the perpetrator failed to enter the bank, where many civilians were queuing to collect their monthly government salaries. The explosion resulted in 158 civilian casualties: 32 deaths and 126 injuries, including five children. The blast also caused extensive damage to surrounding vehicles, shops, and businesses in the area. The Islamic State initially claimed responsibility for the attack but later denied involvement.

Source_2: UNAMA: Reports on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, 2015 Midyear Report, pg. 50-51

Afghanistan Analysts Network