International

Afghanistan: Suicide bombing kills 19, injures 57 in Nangarhar province

File Photo

A suicide bomber on Tuesday targeted a protest in Mohmand Dara district in Nangarhar province. The protest was held in Mohmand Dara district near Jalalabad-Torkham Highway.

The spokesman of the provincial governor said at least 19 people were killed and 57 others were wounded in the explosion. However, the provincial public health directorate said at least 32 people were killed and 128 others were wounded in the explosion. The deputy head of Nangarhar provincial council, Obaidullah, said over 50 people lost their lives in the incident.

He said the protestors asked for dismissal of Bilal Pacha, a commander of local police force members in Achin district, an area close to Mohmad Dara district.

Local officials said the wounded were taken to Jalalabad hospitals.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in a statement condemned the attack and said it voices its mounting concern at the pattern of attacks targeting civilians and schools.

“The majority of civilian casualties occurred in the Mohmandara district of Nangarhar when a suicide attacker detonated his explosives among a crowd which had gathered to demonstrate against an Afghan Local Police commander. At least 20 civilians were killed and more than 60 injured,” UNAMA said.

The statement said that UNAMA reminds all parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations to protect civilians and calls upon them to immediately cease targeting civilians and civilian objects such as schools, in compliance with international humanitarian law.

Click to comment
To Top