World

8 killed in explosions at Afghanistan stadium

IANS

Kabul: At least eight people have been killed and 45 others wounded in three back-to-back explosions during a cricket match at a sports stadium in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, officials said.

The blasts occurred around Friday midnight at Jalalabad's Spinghar cricket stadium where hundreds of people had gone to watch a match between local teams, the provincial governor's spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, told Tolo News.

Three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were detonated among the spectators during the tournament organised to coincide with Ramadan and included several local teams from Jalalabad, Khogyani said.

Tournament organiser Hedayatullah Zahir and Dr Nikmal, deputy mayor of Mehtarlam City of Laghman province, were among those killed. 

No group claimed responsibility for the attack yet. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid denied any involvement.

President Ashraf Ghani said that "the militants continued their enmity with the cultural and religious values of Afghanistan by carrying out such attacks".

The Chief Executive of Jamiat-e Islami party and former governor of Balh province, Atta Mohammad Noor, condemned the brutal bombings, saying that "the attack on a stadium showed that the enemies of the country pay no respect to any value and only seek to eliminate the Afghan people".

Nangarhar is the main bastion of the Islamic State terrorist group in Afghanistan. 

In September, four people -- including a suicide attacker -- died and 12 were wounded near Kabul's main cricket stadium during a key local league match in which international players were taking part.

Help Us Create the Content You Love

Take Survey Now!

Enjoyed reading The Bridge Chronicle?
Your support motivates us to do better. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Whatsapp to stay updated with the latest stories.
You can also read on the go with our Android and iOS mobile app.

Record August Auto Sales in India as Alternative-Fuel Vehicles Gain Ground Over Petrol Models

Indian Space Startup GalaxEye Secures U.S. Patent for Dual-Sensor Satellite Imaging Technology

France Probes Eiffel Tower Incident as Female Workers Removed to Appease Visiting Religious Delegation

Police Book Dahi Handi Organisers, Dancers for Lavani Show Held Without Mandatory Certification

Ramp Missing, Escalator Shut: Accessibility Crisis Deepens at Pune Railway Station

SCROLL FOR NEXT