26 killed in bombing at rally for Afghan president

At least 26 people are dead after a Taliban suicide bomber targeted a campaign event for President Ashraf Ghani in northern Afghanistan on Tuesday, The Associated Press reported.

Another 42 were wounded, but Ghani was unharmed, his campaign chief told AP.

{mosads}The Taliban also claimed responsibility for an explosion near the U.S. Embassy in Kabul just hours later.

Firdaus Faramarz, a spokesman for the Kabul police chief, told the AP there was no immediate information about any casualties in that blast.

The two attacks come ahead of Afghanistan’s presidential election on Sept. 28. The insurgent group has warned Afghans not to vote in the election.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, released a statement saying Taliban suicide bombers were behind both attacks, per AP.

Presidential campaigns resumed earlier this month in Afghanistan after President Trump declared peace negotiations with the Taliban over.

Trump said that talks were “dead” after an attack claimed by the Taliban that killed a U.S. soldier and 11 others.

The Taliban is expected to ratchet up attacks around the country now that negotiations have failed and have refused to discuss a cease-fire.