World

Afghans Head To The Polls, Despite Taliban Attacks

Attacks have killed several candidates and dozens of Afghan citizens in the lead up to the election.

Afghans Head To The Polls, Despite Taliban Attacks
Getty Images

Afghans headed to the polls Saturday, even as violent attacks in the country looked to discourage participation. 

A suicide bombing at a polling place in Kabul reportedly killed at least 15 people and injured dozens more. Attacks leading up to the vote have left several candidates and more than 30 other civilians dead.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for many of those attacks, including one in Kandahar province that left Kandahar's police chief dead. The group says the election is an American-orchestrated sham.  

Aside from violence, the election — which the government has delayed for three years, citing security concerns — has also been plagued by allegations of fraud from critics of Afghan president Ashraf Ghani. Opposition parties had argued for an additional delay to the vote to implement anti voter-fraud measures.  

Additional reporting by Newsy affiliate CNN.