Bomb blast during demonstration against provincial governor in eastern Khost province kills 16, injures 60. (Photo: World Bulletin)
Afghan men inspect the site of the suicide attack. (Photo: AP)
A suspected suicide bomber killed at least 17 people and injured 60 when they detonated their explosives in the midst of a demonstration in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday.
The blast hit locals in Khost province who had for the past week been camping in protest against alleged corruption of provincial governor Abdul Jabbar Naeemi.
Afghan MP Homayon Homayon, who had organized the protest, was among those injured by the attack.
Mubariz Zadran, the spokesman for provincial governor, told that people were preparing for a rally when the blast happened.
“At least 16 people were killed and 61 others wounded,” he said.
“MP Homayon Homayon, head of the parliament defense committee, who was one of the organizers, was also seriously injured in the incident,” he added.
How the bomber carried out the attack has not yet been clarified.
“The bang was too huge to be a suicide bomber on foot. It must be a truck bomb attack,” eye witness Abdullah Zazai told by phone. “The people were stained with blood. I could see parts of body scattered on the scene. We were not doing anything wrong.”
The Taliban, often responsible for attacks on civilians, have denied any involvement in the attack.
“We don’t make explosions unless we have a target. Killing civilians has not been our aim,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told.