Seven Dead After Bombing at Kabul Protestor’s Funeral

After the chaos that ensued in Kabul yesterday, June 2, citizens have assembled to pay their respects for those killed in the violence that occurred between protestors and the government.  On Friday, angered citizens took action against the government in regards to a massive truck bombing—what started as a peaceful protest turned into an all-out brawl between security forces and demonstrators.  Through this fight, many casualties resulted, including the death of a Salem Izadyar, the son of a senior legislator.

A funeral was held today, June 3, for Salem, the son of first deputy chairman Mohammad Alam Izadyar.  While the ceremony commenced, “three big bangs” went off—suicide bombers who attended the funeral detonated their explosives and killed seven people, injuring dozens more.  Suspected of first being a Taliban attack, the Taliban “denied involvement in the funeral attack, which injured 119 people.”

Afghanistan’s chief executive Abdullah Abdullah attended the funeral as well as many other high-profile government officials and lawmakers.  Tweeting that he was not harmed, he was able to describe the attack with great detail.  President Ashraf Ghani shares with Abdullah a “commitment to bring terrorists to justice.  The country is under attack.  We must be strong and united.  There have been too many martyrs, and too much blood spilt.  I grieve with the widows and orphans, and pray for those lost.”

While President Ghani expresses his condolences, his words are not appreciated by everyone due to the incidents of Friday.  For example, one citizen said that, “This government cannot protect us and it is being very irresponsible.  I was working in the emergency room all day after the bombing.  There were so many victims we couldn’t count them, and we had to lay them in the garden.  How can our country go on like this?”  Afghan intelligence chief Amrullah Saleh also lashed out at the government, angry at its “failure to protect the funeral.”

United Nations envoy Tadamichi Yamamoto, expressing his condolences to those affected by the funeral bombing, urges members of the international community to help bring an end to the violence.  He says, “As I have repeatedly said, the ultimate objective in Afghanistan must be a negotiated peace.  Meaningful steps must take place now to obtain an immediate, nationwide halt to violence.”

As measures are taken to restore the losses experienced this past week, citizens and government officials come together to mourn those lost in the bloodshed.  United States diplomat Hugo Llorens concludes by saying, “As always, the United States, along with all of Afghanistan’s partners, remains shoulder-to-shoulder with our Afghan brothers and sisters in pursuit of a brighter tomorrow for all Afghans.”