PAN, May 1, 2018

Afghan journalists mourn colleagues’ deaths in attacks

Journalists in Badakhshan, Nangarhar, Faryab, Jawzjan, Balkh and Ghor provinces arranged gatherings to condemn the killing of their fellow journalists

Nine journalists were killed in a secondary blast in Kabul on Apr. 30, 2018.
Top row, left to right: Yar Mohammad Tokhi from Tolo News, Maharram Durrani, Sabawoon Kakar, Abadullah Hananzai all from RFE/RL.
Bottom row, left to right: Ghazi Rasooli and Nowroz Ali Rajabi from 1TV, Shah Marai from AFP, Salim Talash and Ali Salimi both from Mashal TV. (Photo: TOLOnews.com)

Journalists across Afghanistan on Tuesday strongly condemned the deaths of 10 colleagues in a single day in Kabul and southeastern Khost province.

Nine journalists were killed and eight others injured in a suicide blast in the Shashdarak area of Kabul.

Photo: PAN

The journalists had arrived at the site of a previous suicide blast for coverage when a second attack happened.

The nine journalists were killed hours later another journalist, a BBC reporter, was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Khost province.

Journalists in Badakhshan, Nangarhar, Faryab, Jawzjan, Balkh and Ghor provinces arranged gatherings to condemn the killing of their fellow journalists.

Journalist Abdul Manan Feroz told a gathering in Jawzjan province that some people inside the government might have helped the terrorists and cooperated with them in carrying out the bombings.

Abdul Basir Haqjo, a journalist from Badakhshan, termed the killing of journalists against religious and global principles and strongly condemned it.

Meanwhile, journalists in Ghor province also denounced the double suicide bombings and killing of journalists in the attacks as against Islamic and global values.

Mohammad Younis Neemi, a local journalist, said attacking journalists meant silencing their voices and termed the situation as dangerous for media people.

He suggested the government in cooperation with international community and UNSC should jointly investigate the incident.

WARNING: Graphic content below.

Journalists and others responding to the first blast in Kabul were caught as victims in the second in Kabul, Afghanistan, April 30, 2018. Government and diplomatic offices are heavily present in the area. (Photo: Omar Sobhani/Reuters)

The second explosion targeted those at the scene of the first in Kabul, Afghanistan, April 30, 2018. (Photo: BBC)

A man cries at a hospital after he lost his journalist son in explosions in Kabul, Afghanistan, April 30, 2018. (Photo: AP)

Afghan security forces are seen at the site of a second blast in Kabul, Afghanistan April 30, 2018. (Photo: Omar Sobhani/Reuters)

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