Assault on wrestling centre: 21 dead, 87 wounded

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 21 people were killed and 87 others wounded in Wednesday’s twin suicide bombings at a wrestling club in Kabul.

Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai told Pajhwok Afghan News the site was cordoned off after the blast that took place in the limits of the sixth police district.

The first suicide bomber struck at the centre in Dasht-i-Barchi area shortly after 6pm, followed by a car bomb, Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said.

Ministry of Public Health spokesman Waheed Majroh said 21 people were killed and 87 others wounded. The casualties were evacuated to different hospitals.

Mohammad Daud, a resident of the area where the attack took place, said the blast occurred at the wrestling section of the Khatim-ul-Anbia Sports Club.

He saw some injured people being ferried in ambulances to hospitals.

A reporter and a cameraman of Tolo TV were among those killed, the channel’s head Lutfullah Najafizada tweeted.

A statement from media support organisation NAI confirmed two journalists were killed and four others wounded in the second explosion.

The dead were identified as Tolo TV reporter Samim Faramaz and cameraman Ramaz Ahmadi. A reporter and two cameramen of Khurshid TV were also wounded.

A worker of Maiwand TV too was among the injured, the channel’s head, Israeel Nasiri said.

Some months back, nine journalists had been killed in a similar bombing while covering the aftermath of a suicide attack on a National Directorate of Security office in the Shashdarak area of the capital.

sa/mud

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