BFF-40 At least two dead as Afghan TV bus bombed in Kabul

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AFGHANISTAN-CONFLICT-ATTACK

At least two dead as Afghan TV bus bombed in Kabul

KABUL, Aug 4, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – At least two people were killed when a bus
carrying employees of an Afghan television station was bombed in Kabul on
Sunday, an official said.

The “sticky bomb” — a type of homemade device often attached to vehicles
with magnets — went off around 5:30 pm (1300 GMT), interior ministry
spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said.

A “bus carrying the employees of Khurshid TV exploded in the Taimani
area”, he said, referring to a bustling neighbourhood in central Kabul.

“As a result, a driver and a passerby were killed, and three more —
including two employees of Khurshid TV — were injured.”

Pictures on social media showed a small white bus with extensive damage to
its front.

Zabiullah Doorandish, a journalist with Khurshid TV, said three of his
colleagues had been injured, including one journalist.

“We had received a warning recently by the (security services), that the
Taliban may target us,” he told AFP.

No group immediately claimed responsibility.

The Taliban in June threatened any media outlets broadcasting anti-Taliban
advertisements.

“They shall become military targets for the mujahideen in the capital,
provinces, cities and rural areas and none of their offices, journalists,
workers and personnel shall retain any immunity,” the Taliban said in a June
24 statement.

Doorandish said he had not seen any anti-Taliban ads on the channel.

According to its Facebook page, the private Khurshid TV station is
dedicating to showing cultural programmes that “preach the main values of
journalism, democracy, national unity, creation of understanding & trust
among people and help in visualizing and creating a bright future”.

The blast comes at the same time the US is negotiating with the Taliban
for a possible peace agreement.

Afghanistan is the world’s deadliest place for journalists, who face many
risks covering the conflict and who have sometimes been targeted for doing
their job.

Media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported that 2018
was the deadliest year on record for journalists in Afghanistan, with at
least 15 media workers killed.

BSS/AFP/BZC/2045HRS