231 were wounded in the attack; third attacker shot dead. The ethnic Hazaras were demanding the routing of a major regional electric power through their home province when the explosions went off
Kabul: IS claimed responsibility for twin explosions yesterday that ripped through crowds of Shiite Hazaras in Kabul, killing at least 80 people and wounding 231 others in their first major attack in the Afghan capital.
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A victim at the site of the suicide attack. Pic/Getty Images
The bombings, apparently aimed at sowing sectarian discord in a country well known for Shia-Sunni harmony, came as thousands of Hazaras gathered to protest a multi-million-dollar power line. The marchers were demanding that the power line be routed through their impoverished province, Bamiyan.
Most Hazaras are Shiite Muslims, but most Afghans are Sunni.
Waheed Majroeh, the head of international relations for the ministry of public health, said the death toll was likely to rise 'as the condition of many of the injured is very serious'.
The government had received intelligence that an attack could take place, and had warned the march organisers, a spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said.
Haroon Chakhansuri, presidential spokesman, said two suicide bombers had attempted to target the demonstrators, who were gathering in Demazang Square as their four-hour protest march wound down and they were setting up a camp. “One of them was shot by the police.
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