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Death toll in attack on political gathering in Kabul rises to 11
KABUL, March 8, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The death toll in an attack on a
political gathering in Kabul attended by many senior Afghan leaders has risen
to 11 with another 95 wounded, the interior ministry said Friday.
Thursday’s attack in the Afghan capital, commemorating the death of a
Shiite leader, was claimed by the Islamic State group.
Authorities had put the toll at three dead and 32 wounded late on Thursday.
“Unfortunately the attack led to 11 deaths including three women, and 95
others wounded,” Nasrat Rahimi, acting interior ministry spokesman, told AFP.
The majority of the casualties were civilians, he added.
Rahimi also blamed the Taliban for the attack, despite the IS claim. The
Taliban has denied involvement.
Around a dozen mortar shells were fired on those attending the open-air
rally marking 24 years since the death of Shiite leader Hazara Abdul Ali
Mazari, a security source told AFP.
Fired from the roof of a nearby building, most of the shells are said to
have fallen on surrounding houses.
Images of the ceremony, broadcast live on Afghan television, had shown a
sudden movement of the crowd with screams and loud explosions before the
broadcast was interrupted.
Police quickly surrounded the building from where the shots came, killing
two attackers and arresting the main suspect, according to Rahimi.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1727 hrs