2012 Noshkant bombings

2012 Noshkant bombings
Part of terrorism in Kulkkistan
The embassy of Rykensvik in Noshkant following the bombing
Location	Noshkant, Kulkkistan
Date	14 December 2012 11:28 — 12:16
Target	1. Central Noshkant Eiban Market 2. Embassy of Rykensvik in Noshkant 3. Kulkkistani Air Force headquarters 4. Ukalabh Temple of Worship
Attack type	Suicide bombing, car bomb
Weapons	Suicide belt
Deaths	>129
Non-fatal injuries	>741
Perpetrators	Akhist State (claimed)
Motive	Establishment of ties between Kulkkistan and Rykensvik, Akhist extremism, cessation of attacks against Baltocarpathia
Accused	Ismail al-Usman

The 2012 Noshkant bombings were a series of bombings that occurred on 13 December 2012 in the Kulkkistani capital of Noshkant. Nearly 130 people have so far been killed in the attacks, with more than 500 wounded following simultaneous truck and suicide bombings at four different locations in Noshkant. A crowded market, the embassy of Rykensvik, the Air Force headquarters, and the Ukalabh Temple of Worship were all the locations that were targeted by the perpetrators. The Akhist State, an emerging militant group in eastern Kulkkistan claimed responsibility for the attacks, however the government of Kulkkistan blamed "foreign enemies" of Kulkkistan for assisting the Akhist State in the bombings. The government of Kulkkistan has also vowed to punish those responsible, with reports that Kulkkistani military forces plan to commence an operation against the Akhist State.

The first explosion occurred at 11:28, when a man equipped with an explosives vest detonated the vest at a crowded spot within a shopping market in eastern Noshkant, which caused the majority of fatalities in the attack, as 78 people were killed in the market, and at least 230 were wounded. At the embassy of Rykensvik, a light truck rammed into the gates of the embassy, breaking through, before blowing up and causing most of the building to collapse, causing 30 fatalities so far as recovery efforts continue. The third explosion occurred at the Kulkkistani Air Force headquarters, causing no fatalities and wounding nearly 20, due to the smaller size of the bomb within the car that was hosting the explosive device. The final explosion occurred within the halls of the Ukalabh Temple of Worship, as a suicide bomber charged into the temple and detonated his vest during prayer hours, killing more than 20.

In the weeks leading up to the attacks, Kulkkistani security forces in eastern Kulkkistan had reported a number of security incidents concerning the Akhist State. Along with this, the group had established a local media station in eastern Kulkkistan, where the group's leader, Ismail al-Usman would make statements and claims.

Background and motives

Following the 1980 Kulkkistani Revolution, a number of extremist militant groups had emerged in Kulkkistan, with most choosing to side with the government of Kulkkistan and Supreme Leader Ali Tarrokh. However, a small number of groups had opposed the government of Kulkkistan, many of those being pro-democracy groups that were forced into exile in southern Baltocarparthia by the Kulkkistani military. However, in the late 2000s heading into the late 2010s, a handful of groups were formed as many military and religious figures sought more extremist practices within Akhism. These groups also vehemently opposed imperialism, western ideals, capitalism, globalism, Udonovism, communism, and a number of other ideologies and practices. The Akhist State was one of these groups, being formed sometime in the mid-2000s by former Hazameh member Ismail al-Usman.

There had been particular anger at the Kulkkistani government following a series of diplomatic initiatives aimed at solving regional tensions, such as the 2001 Salis Agreement between the governments of Kulkkistan and Baltocarpathia. This resulted in the Kulkkistani military refusing to officially get involved in the 2001 Balto-Kulkkistani border war between Baltocarpathian forces and Udonovist militants in the north. The Kulkkistani military also refused to get involved in the Baltocarpathian Civil War, which caused even more anger as a number of countries were involved in a war happening right on Kulkkistan's borders.

The last terrorist attack in Noshkant before the 2012 bombings was the 1990 Ali Tarrokh assassination attempt, in which a far-right anti-Udonovist assailant attempted to assassinate Supreme Leader Tarrokh by planting an explosive device on his car before a scheduled trip to the northern city of Nouris. However, the tour was cancelled just moments before it was supposed to happen, and the car blew up, wounding two civilians. Before that attack, a number of attacks had occurred in Noshkant just after the revolution by anti-Udonovist assailants, with many happening during and right before the revolution by many Udonovist groups.

The government of Kulkkistan had also made the controversial decision of establishing diplomatic and economic ties with Rykensvik, a nation which heavily practices capitalism and democracy, both of which are extremely disliked by the Akhist extremists.

Despite this, the city was still on high alert, as the Akhist State broadcasted numerous threats against the Kulkkistani government, claiming to have prepared an attack against Noshkant. Kulkkistani security forces also arrested a suspected member of the group in an apartment in Noshkant, before letting him go on no charges.

A number of reports also claimed that the group had successfully managed to set up a terror cell in Noshkant, however the government of Kulkkistan refused to take these claims seriously. It was only after the attacks that an investigation was launched in order to search for these cells. According to an anonymous source close to the Akhist State, dozens of affiliates had relocated themselves to Noshkant in order to better plan the attack just days before, while managing to avoid Kulkkistani security forces.