This article is from the source 'nytimes' 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.nytimes.com/2014/11/24/world/asia/afghanistan-suicide-bomber-volleyball-match.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Suicide Bomber Kills Dozens at Volleyball Match in Afghanistan Suicide Bomber Kills Dozens at Volleyball Match in Afghanistan
(about 1 hour later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — As many as 40 people were killed Sunday after a suicide bomber detonated explosives in a crowd gathered for a volleyball match in a village in eastern Afghanistan, a spokesman for the provincial governor said. KABUL, Afghanistan — As many as 40 people were killed Sunday after a suicide bomber detonated explosives in a crowd gathered for a volleyball match in a village in eastern Afghanistan, a spokesman for the provincial governor said.
Up to 60 people were wounded in the blast, which occurred in the Yahya Khel district of Paktika Province, said the spokesman, Mokhlis Afghan.Up to 60 people were wounded in the blast, which occurred in the Yahya Khel district of Paktika Province, said the spokesman, Mokhlis Afghan.
Another provincial official, Attaullah Fazli, who is the deputy governor, put the number of dead at 50. The province’s deputy governor, Attaullah Fazli, put the number of dead at 50.
Although most of the victims were civilians, a member of the provincial council in Paktika, Bahawul Khan Katawazai, said that the dead included eight members of the Afghan Local Police, a village-based paramilitary outfit that supports the Afghan government. Although most of the victims were civilians, the dead included eight members of the Afghan Local Police, a village-based paramilitary outfit that supports the Afghan government, said Bahawul Khan Katawazai, a member of the Paktika provincial council.
The attack occurred after 5 p.m. in a small village where a local volleyball team was competing against players from a neighboring district, Yosuf Khel. Volleyball is among the most popular forms of entertainment in rural Afghanistan. Where no net is available, a string is often used as a substitute. Villages and district teams often compete against one another a local circuit, attracting sizable crowds of young men. The attack occurred after 5 p.m. in a small village where a local volleyball team was competing against players from a neighboring district, Yosuf Khel. Volleyball is among the most popular forms of entertainment in rural Afghanistan. Where no net is available, a string is often used as a substitute. Villages and district teams often compete against each other in a local circuit, attracting sizable crowds of young men.
Mr. Katawazai, the provincial council member, said the suicide bomber detonated the explosives within the crowd of spectators gathered for the match on Sunday. The Taliban banned sports like boxing and soccer when the group governed Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. In the years since, even as suicide attacks by the Taliban and other insurgent groups have become more frequent, the bombers have not typically targeted sporting events.
The Taliban had banned sports like boxing and soccer when they group governed Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. In the years since, even as suicide attacks by various insurgent groups, including the Taliban, have become more frequent, the bombers have not typically targeted sporting events.
There have been exceptions. A few suicide attacks have targeted games of buzkashi, a competition in which men on horseback struggle over a dead goat. One of the deadliest suicide bombings in the country occurred at a dogfighting match near the southern city of Kandahar in 2008. At least 80 people were killed.There have been exceptions. A few suicide attacks have targeted games of buzkashi, a competition in which men on horseback struggle over a dead goat. One of the deadliest suicide bombings in the country occurred at a dogfighting match near the southern city of Kandahar in 2008. At least 80 people were killed.
Few details were available Sunday because of the remoteness of the location, and no one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.Few details were available Sunday because of the remoteness of the location, and no one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
So far this year, there have been at least five suicide attacks in Paktika Province, which sits on the border with Pakistan, where many of the suicide bombers who carry out attacks in Afghanistan are trained. There have been at least five suicide attacks this year in Paktika Province, which sits on the border with Pakistan, where many of the suicide bombers who carry out attacks in Afghanistan are trained.
In several suicide attacks this year, the targets in the province appear to have been police officials or tribal leaders. In July, a vehicle packed with explosives detonated in a market in a nearby district in Paktika, killing at least 89 people.In several suicide attacks this year, the targets in the province appear to have been police officials or tribal leaders. In July, a vehicle packed with explosives detonated in a market in a nearby district in Paktika, killing at least 89 people.