KABUL, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) delegation to Afghanistan on Wednesday condemned a terrorist attack against the Afghan Supreme Court employees which killed 20 people and injured over 40 others, said an official statement.
On Tuesday afternoon, a suicide bomber detonated his suicide jacket at the entrance of the court building when visitors and the workers were leaving the building, which is located in a diplomatic district in central part of the city.
"Employees of the Afghan Supreme Court have again been a target of a despicable attack, which has claimed the lives of at least 20 innocent people and many others injured. Our thoughts are with the families of those who have been killed, and we wish those who have been injured a speedy recovery," the office of the EU Special Representative in Afghanistan said in the statement.
Among the killed people were nine women and the injured included several women and children.
The statement added that, "a functioning justice system will guarantee the respect of the Afghan constitution and is of utmost importance for a democratic and peaceful Afghanistan.
"The European Union stands by the Afghan authorities and calls on all Afghans to stay united in support of our combined efforts to fight the global threat of terrorism," the statement said.
Tuesday's bombing was the second attack on Afghan Supreme Court over the past three years. Taliban had claimed responsibility for the previous suicide bombing.
Some 3,498 civilians were killed and over 7,920 others injured in conflict-related incidents across Afghanistan last year, according to figures released by the UN mission in the country on Monday.
