Ghulam Haider Hamidi Killed in Turban Bombing

(PRINTWORDS NEWS) Ghulam Haider Hamidi, the former mayor of Kandahar was killed on Wednesday in a suicide bombing. Zalmai Ayoubi, a Kandahar governor’s office spokesperson announced the news to the media. Zalmai Ayoubi stated that the mayor was killed in a suicide attack on his meeting at a city hall.

The attacker detonated the explosive in his turban when the mayor was delivering his speech. Just two weeks ago, President Hamid Karzai‘s half brother Ahmad Wali Karzai was also killed in the same city.

Few months ago, Ghulam Haider Hamidi told a reputed media outlet that he was not feeling safe as he felt his life was in danger. Regarding this suicide attack, Ryan Crocker, the U. S. ambassador to Afghanistan said that he is not sure if Taliban officials conducted this act. He also added that this whole accident might turn out to be a murder if it has nothing to do with the Taliban.

On the other hand, the media outlets reported that the recent assassination is claimed by Taliban group. However, one civilian was injured in this attack. The eyewitnesses said that the Mayor was discussing about land disputes with all the residents. Ghulam Haider Hamidi previously ordered destruction of illegal homes and two children, reportedly dies in this demolition process on Tuesday.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai severely criticized this assassination. He delivered a statement from his palace where he said, “The enemies of the people and country martyred a man this morning who spared no effort, day and night, to reconstruct the country and lost his life on this path”.

On the other hand, the law enforcement officials are still not sure if the suicide bomber was an insurgent or anyone from those children’s family. Ryan Crocker has condemned Wednesday’s killing and expressed his condolence at the unfortunate demise of Ghulam Haider Hamidi.

He called all the attacks that happened recently as “horrific” and said these killings are “another indication of both the challenges that Afghanistan faces, but also the extraordinary resilience of the Afghan government and people”.