Afghanistan bomb blasts kill dozens
  • 12 years ago
WARNING: THIS STORY CONTAINS VIDEO OF BODIES
Victims of a suicide bomb attack on a Shi'ite Muslim shrine in central Kabul are rushed away for treatment.
At least 30 people were killed and almost 70 wounded in the blast.
The attack was carried out during the festival of Ashura, in which Shi'ite Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammad's grandson, Hussein.
(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) SHIITE MUSLIM SAYED AHMAD SAYING:
"Today was the day of mourning for Imam Hussein, and Muslims were beating themselves because of Ashura. This action is against humanity and against Islam."
Although there is tension in Afghanistan between Sunnis and the Shi'ite minority, the country has been spared large-scale sectarian attacks since the fall of the Taliban.
(SOUNDITE) (Dari) SHIITE WHO WAS AT THE ATTACK SITE, ESMATULLAH JAN, SAYING:
"The causalities were huge, we were not expecting such an attack to happen. We tell our enemy that we don't care about your attack, and we continue our mourning even if hundreds of us die in this way."
Meanwhile, a bicycle bomb exploded near the main mosque of the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.
At least four people were killed and 17 wounded in this attack.
No-one had claimed responsibility for the attack, and authorities said investigations were ongoing.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.