8 dead, 45 injured as multiple blasts rock Jalalabad

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): At least eight people were killed and 45 others wounded in a series of explosions at a sports stadium in eastern Nangarhar province, an official said on Saturday.

Attaullah Khogyani, the governor’s spokesman, said three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) went off at the stadium late on Friday when a Ramadan cricket event was underway.

He said eight people were killed and 45 others wounded. Eight of the injured were discharged after being administered first medical aid, while 37 others are still under treatment.

The spokesman added the organizer of the Ramadan Cup, Hidayatullah Zaheer, and Dr. Nekmal, deputy mayor of Jalalabad, were among the dead.

An eyewitness, Shaukat Zaman, said the initial blast took place close to the commentary box. One of the injured, Syed Anwar, said the explosions happened after some officials entered the venue.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the multiple blasts. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the group’s involvement in the attack.

Karim Sadiq, a member of the national cricket team, was present at the venue when the blasts happened. His brother Taj Malook said: “We were offering Taraveeh at the time of the bombing.

“We called Karim Sadiq but his phone was off. Another brother of ours rushed to hospital. Luckily, Karim escaped unhurt but his friends were killed and wounded,” he continued.

According to hospital officials, an employee of UNAMA, civil society activists Abdul Latif Wahid, Qarar Azizi, Shafiq Khogyani and some journalists were among the injured.

sa/mud