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| Kabul explosion: At least 61 dead as Isis claim blast at protest march | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 61 people have been killed and more than 200 wounded in an explosion targetting a large demonstration in Kabul, Afghanistan - a blast that has been claimed by Isis. | |
| 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 - with a statement on the Isis-linked Aamaq news agency claiming that two attackers detonated esplosive vest. However, officials are yet to confirm the cause. | |
| Dr Waheed Majroeh, the head of international relations for the Ministry of Public Health, said at least 61 people were dead, while 207 people were also wounded | |
| Police were said to be transporting individuals to hospital after the blast took place in Deh Mazang square. | Police were said to be transporting individuals to hospital after the blast took place in Deh Mazang square. |
| The spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has told The Associated Press that the central government had shared intelligence with the organizers of a protest march in Kabul that was bombed, warning that the marchers faced a possible “terrorist attack.” | |
| Spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri said that government officials warned the march organizers that they risked attack because, “We knew that terrorists wanted to bring sectarianism to Kabul, and cause splits within our community.” | |
| He says he the president will meet leaders of the Hazara demonstrators later today. Many of the leaders did not attend Saturday's demonstration. | |
| 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.” |
| In a statement, President Ghani said: “Peaceful demonstrations are the right of every citizen of Afghanistan and the government will do everything it can to provide them with security". | |
| 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. |
| 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 |