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Three blasts rang out at a funeral in Kabul, Afghanistan. People had gathered for the funeral of a protester killed by police on Friday. Earlier today during his funeral, tragedy stuck once again during a bomb attack that has left at least 12 people dead and 87 injured.
The funeral was held for Salem Izadyar, the son of Mohammad Alam Izadyar, the first deputy chairman of the Afghan Senate. He was killed during violent demonstrations in Kabul yesterday.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani described Saturday’s bombing as an “outrageous attack on mourners burying the martyred. The country is under attack. We must be strong and united,” said Ghani on Twitter.
According to Abdullah Abdullah, the chief executive of Afghanistan, there were three suicide bombers who disguised themselves among the crowd. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Mr. Abdullah attended the funeral service and was present during the explosions.
On Friday, protesters urged the government to improve their security measures as a result of a different bombing in Kabul, which proved even deadlier. That attack took more than 90 lives and injured more than 450 people.
Yesterday, Police pushed back protesters in Kabul. Officers used water cannons, tear gas and opened fired on protesters with live rounds if they got too close to the presidential palace. However, the city’s officials have claimed that some protesters fired weapons at officers during the violent encounter. In total, eight protesters lost their lives.
Protesters kept on demonstrating into Saturday, when the blasts occurred at the funeral of Salem Izadyar.
How will the international community respond to Afghanistan’s increased security threats?
It’s been more than 15 years after the United States invaded Afghanistan, and the situation of that nation has only deteriorated since. As a result, President Trump has considered sending thousands of American soldiers to support NATO’s military in the region.
In 2016, air strikes, explosions and violent clashes resulted in record-breaking civilian causalities. That year, 3,500 civilians were killed and 7,900 injured.
