Massive terror attack in Baghlan strikes parliamentarians

Today Baghlan -- a northern city that had been relatively peaceful -- suffered one of the worst suicide attacks in Afghanistan's history. The attack targeted a delegation of 18 lawmakers visiting from Kabul, killing at least two dozen and injured many more. Casualty estimates vary, and could be much, much higher (The AP reported 64 dead, Afghan TV 100...)

The bomb struck as the visiting delegates from the lower house were entering a sugar factory to celebrate its re-opening (Baghlan is the country's top producer of sugar beets).

The Taliban immediately issued a denial, but such denials have proved fallacious in the past. Hekmatyar's men are active in Baghlan.

The attack killed five parliamentarians, including Sayed Mustafa Kazemi, a former minister of commerce who was recently a leader and spokesmen for the National Front opposition group.

Afghan National Television reported that several other members of Parliament were killed: 

• Abdul Mateen, a former communist engineer from the southern province of Helmand;
• Qudrutallah Zaki from the northern province of Takhar;
• Said Rahman Hehmat from Kunar Province in the east;
• Muhammed Arif Zarif from Kabul.

In addition, dozens of civilians, including elders and children, were among the dead and injured.

None of the news reports I've seen describe the attack itself. It seems unlikely a single bomber on foot could have wreaked such carnage. Was it a vehicle bomb? Were the bombs planted in advance? 

Photo: Sayed Mustafa Kazemi in a 2002 meeting with American Ambassador Robert Finn.