Car bombing in Kandahar gated community connected to Karzai kills 9

GlobalPost

A car bomb detonated in an elite gated community connected to President Hamid Karzai in Kandahar, Afghanistan Friday has left nine people dead and over 70 injured. 

The Aino Mina complex, on the outskirts of the southern city, was co-developed by Karzai's youngest brother Mahmood, who was one of the project's biggest investors, the Associated Press reported

There were two vehicle IEDs (improvised explosive devices)," Javed Faisal, spokesman for the Kandahar provincial governor, told Agence France-Presse. "Nine people are dead, including three policemen, and more than 50 people are wounded."

The bombs were reportedly detonated in two Toyota Corolla cars around 7:30 p.m. local time. 

The posh housing unit is home to many Afghani government officials and other wealthy citizens — its three-bedroom homes go for $90,000, and the gated community features a jogging track, football field and several parks.

An investigation is being launched into how the cars were able to get past Aino Mina's tight security, the AP reported. 

Kandahar was the epicenter of Afghanistan's Taliban movement in the 1990s, and continues to be a target for attacks in protest of Hamid Karzai's government. 

The explosions come a day after a suicide bombing in Kabul killed 15 people, the deadliest in the city this year. 

More from GlobalPost: 6 Americans among 15 killed in suicide bombing of NATO convoy in Afghanistan (UPDATES)

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