Two suicide bombings in Kabul, Afghanistan left at least 30 people dead Monday, including at least eight journalists. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The bomber targeted journalists, disguising himself as a cameraman going to the site after a first explosion, according to Agence France Presse.
AFP photographer Shah Marai is among the dead.
AFP Global News Director Michele Leridon commented on the death of the photographer in a statement.
“This is a devastating blow, for the brave staff of our close-knit Kabul bureau and the entire agency,” she said. “Shah Marai was a treasured colleague who spent more than 15 years documenting the tragic conflict in Afghanistan for AFP.”
BBC listed other journalists that have been identified as victims:
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty confirmed that three of its journalists were killed in the attack. Abadullah Hananzai, a journalist and cameraman, had been working on a story about narcotics, while Maharram Durrani worked on the weekly women’s programme. Sabawoon Kakar had earlier been listed as injured, but died later in hospital
Tolo News said its cameraman Yar Mohammad Tokhi was among the victims
Afghanistan’s 1TV said reporter Ghazi Rasooli and cameraman Nowroz Ali Rajabi had been killed.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement on the social media app Telegram, according to CNN. The group said a “martyrdom brother” blew his explosive vest up among a group of “apostates.” They identified the first bomber as Qaqaa al-Kurdi and the second as Khalil al-Qurshi, but did not provide evidence of their claims.
Interior minister spokesperson Najib Danish told BBC that at least eight journalists and four police officers were among the dead. Forty-five people total have been reported injured thus far.
Source: Townhall
