This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/kabul-explosion-casualties-blast-targets-protest-march-suicide-attack-a7152216.html
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Kabul explosion: At least 29 killed as blast targets protest march | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| At least 29 people have been killed and more than 100 wounded in an explosion targetting a large demonstration in Kabul, Afghanistan. | |
| Thousands of members of the Afghan Hazara minority group had been marching through the city during the planned protest over plans for a controversial new power line. | Thousands of members of the Afghan Hazara minority group had been marching through the city during the planned protest over plans for a controversial new power line. |
| Local news sources have reported that a suicide bomber was behind the blast, but officials are yet to confirm the cause. | |
| Mohammad Ismail Kawousi, a spokesman for the ministry of public health, said at least 29 dead and 142 wounded had been taken to nearby hospitals but the numbers may change. Other reports have put the death toll at more than 50. | |
| Police are said to be transporting individuals to hospital after the blast took place in Deh Mazang square. | |
| Eyewitness Ramin Anwari described seeing up to eight bodies in the Demazang area, where protesters were preparing to set up a camp after the four-hour march. He had no further details. | Eyewitness Ramin Anwari described seeing up to eight bodies in the Demazang area, where protesters were preparing to set up a camp after the four-hour march. He had no further details. |
| A large part of the city centre had been sealed off for the protest march. | A large part of the city centre had been sealed off for the protest march. |
| The demonstrators had reportedly waved banners and chanted “death to discrimination”, in reaction to the plans for a 500kV power transmission line to be built from Turkmenistan to Kabul — crossing through areas with large Hazara communities. | The demonstrators had reportedly waved banners and chanted “death to discrimination”, in reaction to the plans for a 500kV power transmission line to be built from Turkmenistan to Kabul — crossing through areas with large Hazara communities. |
| One of the march organisers Laila Mohammadi said she arrived at the scene soon after the blast and saw “many dead and wounded people.” | One of the march organisers Laila Mohammadi said she arrived at the scene soon after the blast and saw “many dead and wounded people.” |
| Seddiq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, said police were working to confirm initial reports of the blast. | Seddiq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, said police were working to confirm initial reports of the blast. |
| Violence had been feared at what was the second demonstration by Hazaras over the power line issue. | Violence had been feared at what was the second demonstration by Hazaras over the power line issue. |
| A similar protest held in May attracted tens of thousands of people, causing the central business district to be closed off. | A similar protest held in May attracted tens of thousands of people, causing the central business district to be closed off. |
| Hazara politcal leaders had attended the May demonstrations, but wee notable by their absence on Saturday. | Hazara politcal leaders had attended the May demonstrations, but wee notable by their absence on Saturday. |
| The TUTAP power line is backed by the Asian Development Bank with involvement of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The original plan routed the line through Bamiyan province, in the central highlands, where most of the country's Hazaras live. | The TUTAP power line is backed by the Asian Development Bank with involvement of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The original plan routed the line through Bamiyan province, in the central highlands, where most of the country's Hazaras live. |
| That route was changed in 2013 by the previous Afghan government. Leaders of the marches have said that the rerouting was evidence of bias against the Hazara community, which accounts for up to 15 percent of Afghanistan's estimated 30 million-strong population. | That route was changed in 2013 by the previous Afghan government. Leaders of the marches have said that the rerouting was evidence of bias against the Hazara community, which accounts for up to 15 percent of Afghanistan's estimated 30 million-strong population. |
| They are considered the poorest of the country's ethnic groups, and have suffered a history of discrimination. | They are considered the poorest of the country's ethnic groups, and have suffered a history of discrimination. |
| Afghanistan is desperately short of power, with less than 40 percent of the population connected to the national grid, according to the World Bank. Almost 75 per cent of electricity is imported. | Afghanistan is desperately short of power, with less than 40 percent of the population connected to the national grid, according to the World Bank. Almost 75 per cent of electricity is imported. |
| Additional reporting from AP | Additional reporting from AP |