Daesh’s attack in Kabul was directed against civilians: UN mission in Afghanistan says

Almaty. January 9. Silkroadnews - Representatives of the UN mission in Afghanistan have released a report on investigation of the recent suicide attack in Kabul, the responsibility for which was claimed by the “Islamic state” group banned in Russia, the Afghan Telegraph Agency (AfTAG) reports.
To remind, the terrorist attack against police officers took place on the evening of January 4 in the eastern part of the city. Police came to help their colleagues who countered the unrest.
According to the reports, the reason for the conflict originated between the law enforcement officers and local population was the initiative to remove the trade pavilions allegedly selling alcohol the Afghan legislation treat as narcotic substances. Owners and stores employees carried out a demonstration not allowing for pavilions removal, which then dissolved into a conflict with police.
Officers of the Ministry of Interior Affairs took part in restoration of public order when the suicide bomber approached and detonated the bomb resulted in numerous casualties.
Previously, Afghan media reported of at least 15 dead and 20 injured people, but the UN mission’s later report states the explosion killed 13 people and injured 19 more.
12 of the 13 people killed in the attack were police officers, but in their official statement the UN officials assessed the attack as a violence against civilians.
The UN mission in Afghanistan reminds all the parties to the conflict that Afghan National Police officers are considered as civilians if they do not take direct part in hostilities, the statement says, and people who died in the attack were not involved in the armed conflict.
Representatives of the United Nations condemned the attack on policemen. The acting head of the Afghan mission, Toby Lanzer, expressed his condolences to those who lost relatives and friends in the attack, and wished the survivors a speedy recovery.