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Interior Ministry confirms death of 6 journalists among 25 in Kabul twin attack, death toll to rise

Kabul

Kabul


New Delhi: The interior ministry had confirmed the death toll in twin suicide blast that ripped through Kabul on Monday, where out of 25 people killed, 6 were the journalists. At the same time, 49 were being confirmed to be wounded, amid fears the death toll could rise.

Agence France-Presse chief photographer Shah Marai, two journalists from 1TV, one from Tolo news and one from Jahan TC were among the dead, confirmed by AFP news.

“This is a devastating blow, for the brave staff of our close-knit Kabul bureau and the entire agency,” AFP Global News Director Michele Leridon said.

Marai who joined AFP as a driver in 1996, began taking pictures on the side and covering news became a full-time stringer, rising through the ranks to become chief photographer in the bureau. In the wake of Bloody Monday blast, he has left six children including a new born daughter behind.

“NO, we can’t lose Marai, I am devastated,” former interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi wrote.

Tributes from Afghan officials, analysts, and journalists were pouring in on Twitter.

We have lost two of our staff members in today’s suicide bombing in Kabul. Our reporter Ghazi Rasooli and cameraman Nowroz Ali Rajabi were covering an earlier suicide blast when they lost their lives, tweeted by 1TVNews 

The Twin Suicide Attack

“The bomber disguised himself as a journalist and detonated himself among the crowd,” Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai said.

Shortly before 8:00 am (0330 GMT), a motorcycle detonated its explosives near the headquarters of Afghan intelligence services.

Another blast followed, targeting voter registration centre in Kabul.

In an announcement issued via its propaganda agency Amaq, IS, which has dramatically stepped up its attacks in Kabul in recent months, vowed to target US forces and “their intelligence agents” as well as their “internal supporters”.

It happened as an offensive retaliation to call for militants to take up Afghan government’s offer of peace talks as well as a response against US President Donald Trump’s new strategy for Afghanistan announced last August.

More Suicide attacks are to be followed this season as told by General John Nicholson, the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan.