Afghanistan ? A bomb attack struck a group of lawmakers Tuesday as they were being greeted by children on a visit to a sugar factory in Afghanistan’s normally peaceful north. At least 28 people were killed, including five parliament members as well as children.

U.S.-backed President Hamid Karzai blamed the “the enemies of peace and security,” a euphemism often used for the militant Taliban. But such a spectacular attack could also have been the work of al-Qaida. The Taliban denied involvement.

Taliban attacks typically target Afghan and international security forces or government leaders but often kill civilians nearby. Most of their attacks are in the country’s south or east. Taliban bombers have killed regional governors in the past, but never so many public figures at once.

The Ministry of Interior said at least 28 people were killed at the sugar factory in Baghlan, a town about 95 miles north of the capital, Kabul., one of the deadliest attacks of the year. But Fayez said more bodies may have been collected from the site by families and not counted in the official toll. Earlier, a government official said 64 people had died.