14 killed as twin explosions shake historic Afghan city – Manila Bulletin



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At least 14 people were killed in central Afghanistan on Tuesday when two explosions ripped through the historic city of Bamiyan, home to many members of the mainly Shiite Hazara ethnic minority, authorities said.

Afghan security personnel arrive after two explosions struck the city of Bamiyan on November 24, 2020.

The carnage ended years of calm in the isolated city, famous for its ancient Buddhist heritage, which has prevented the kind of large-scale attacks common in other parts of the war-torn country.

The twin bombing marked the latest major attack in Afghanistan, where violence has escalated in recent months, including as negotiators from the Afghan government and the Taliban meet for peace talks in the Qatari capital Doha.

“Fourteen people died and 45 more were injured in two (bomb) explosions,” Bamiyan police chief Zabardast Safi told AFP, adding that among the dead was a traffic policeman.

The explosives were placed in two separate locations, Bamiyan police spokesman Reza Yosufi said, adding that two suspects had been arrested.

Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian confirmed the number of victims.

“We are investigating the deadly explosions in Bamiyan,” he said.

“This is an unforgivable crime.”

No group immediately claimed the blasts, and the Taliban denied their involvement.

The blasts occurred in front of a market and near a hospital in Bamiyan, local resident Anwar Saadatyar told AFP.

“When I got to the market… there was still blood and body parts everywhere. The explosion happened when people were busy shopping, ”he said in a telephone interview.

In the second explosion site near the hospital, most of the victims were college students, Saadatyar said.

“I visited the hospital later and saw people crying for their relatives who were killed or injured in the blasts,” he said.

“There were so many people injured that the doctors didn’t know who to treat first. I will never forget that scene. “

– Buddhas of Bamiyan –

Bamiyan is perhaps best known for the giant Buddha statues that were once carved into the walls outside the city.

In 2001, the Taliban sparked international revulsion when they blew up centuries-old figures while attacking Afghanistan’s rich pre-Islamic cultural heritage.

With its snowy backdrop and frequent blue skies, Bamiyan is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs who want to explore a network of ancient caves that are home to Buddhist temples, monasteries, and paintings.

The province is primarily home to the Hazara community, which over the years has been targeted by Sunni extremists such as the Islamic State group and the Taliban in the 1990s.

In cities like Kabul, the Hazaras have witnessed repeated attacks in their neighborhoods, including a brutal daylight assault in the capital in May on a hospital maternity ward that left several mothers dead.

In the past six months, the Taliban have carried out 53 suicide attacks and detonated 1,250 explosive devices that have left 1,210 civilians dead and 2,500 injured, the Interior Ministry said last week.

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