12 dead, 50 kidnapped on Afghanistan highway

(Baonghean.vn) - Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan are suspected of killing 12 people after blocking traffic on a road in the east of the country, while 50 others were kidnapped in the north, in a series of attacks on highways, according to information from Afghan officials on June 8.

The Taliban are suspected of carrying out a series of highway attacks in Afghanistan on June 7 and 8. Photo: Reuters.

The Taliban have made gains in many areas of the country in recent months and the killing of its leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a US drone strike last month has had no significant impact on the violence there.

Attackers in the eastern province of Ghazni stopped two cars on the night of June 7 and shot all of them dead. Seven members of the security forces were also among the dead, according to provincial governor spokesman Jawid Salangi.

“The Taliban ordered the passengers to get out of the bus and brutally shot them,” Jawid Salangi said, adding that locals later found 12 bodies.

Taliban representatives have yet to comment.

Among the victims were members of the Afghan security forces. Photo: Internet.

On June 8, the Taliban stopped a bus and a car near the northern city of Kunduz, kidnapping all 50 people on board, regional police spokesman Mahfozullah Akbari told Reuters.

“We are trying our best to rescue them as soon as possible,” the person said.

Travellers have faced a string of killings and kidnappings in recent weeks in Afghanistan. Insurgents killed at least nine people and kidnapped 20 others when they blocked three buses in Kunduz late last month, an attack the Taliban claimed.

Thao Linh

(According to Reuters)