Suicide bombers kill 80 at protest
Two suicide bombers killed at least 80 people staging a protest in Kabul yesterday.
Islamic State claimed the atrocity as their first attack ever in the Afghan capital.
More than 200 people were wounded in the blasts, which targeted a march by the Hazara ethnic minority group.
Hazaras are primarily Shia Muslims and IS view all Shia as apostates.
A statement reported by the IS-Linked Aamaq online news agency said two militants detonated explosive vests amid the crowds of demonstrators.
The attack will fuel fears that IS are growing in strength in Afghanistan, where the government are already under threat from the Taliban.
The Hazaras – who have a history of persecution – were demanding a major power line be routed through their impoverished home province.
Footage on Afghan television showed a scene of carnage, with bodies and body parts spread across a square.
President Ashraf Ghani’s spokesman, Haro on Chakhansuri, said government officials had warned organisers of the demonstration that they risked attack.
He added: “We knew that terrorists wanted to bring sectarianism to Kabul and cause splits within our community.”
Ghani was due to meet march leaders last night, the spokesman said.