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Terrorism

Afghan police seize explosives-laden truck

August 6, 2017

Police in Kabul have seized a truck carrying 16.5 more tons of explosives than was used in a deadly May bombing there that killed 150 people. The incident underlines the deteriorating security situation in the country.

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Screenshot - Facebook: NDS Afghanistan announces seizure of explosives
Image: Facebook/Afghanistan.NDS

The truck with Pakistani license plates was seized in District 9 of the Afghan capital, Kabul, Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS) announced Saturday in a Facebook statement.

The news agency AFP also reported on the truck's seizure, stating that the 16,500 kilograms (18 tons) of explosives had been hidden in containers marked as poultry feed.

The explosives were packed into 50-kilogram bags, the NDS said.

Afghanistan Explosion in Kabul
The May truck bomb attack was the deadliest in Kabul since 2001Image: Getty Images/AFP/S. Marai

Read more: The Afghan security problem

Five people were arrested in relation to the explosive-laden truck. According to the NDS' statement, the material was to be used for making bombs and suicide vests as well as carrying out other terrorist activities.

Series of attacks this year

Kabul has been battered by suicide attacks in 2017.

On May 31, a massive truck bomb ripped through the diplomatic quarter, killing around 150 people and wounding some 400 others, mostly civilians.  That bomb was said to have contained around 1.5 tons (1,500 kilograms) - some 16.5 tons fewer than were seized on Saturday. No group has taken responsibility for the May attack, which also heavily damaged part of the German embassy.

In late July, a car bomb attack claimed by the Taliban killed dozens in western Kabul. A few days later, Taliban militants also unleased a suicide attack on a NATO convoy. 

Read more: Afghanistan's security situation 'has deteriorated'