Journalists were targeted. The first blast took place at around at 8 a.m. local time in the Shashdarak area of the city, where the US embassy and Afghan government buildings are located, prompting journalists to rush to the scene. The second explosion about 20 minutes later came as the attacker, posing as a cameraman, detonated explosives as journalists huddled around the scene. French news agency Agence France Press confirmed that its photographer Shah Marai was among the dead. “This is a devastating blow, for the brave staff of our close-knit Kabul bureau and the entire agency. Shah Marai was a treasured colleague who spent more than 15 years documenting the tragic conflict in Afghanistan for AFP,” AFP Global News Director Michele Leridon released a statement.
Second blast in Kabul
A further 45 people were injured in the two incidents, the ministry of interior confirmed. The victims have been taken to Wazir Akbar Khan (hospital) and Emergency Hospital. The site of the explosion was close to NATO’s Afghan headquarters, the US embassy and Afghan government buildings, including the Presidential palace, the Defense Ministry and the headquarters of Afghanistan’s intelligence services. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the two bombings.
