UPDATES HL, LEDE, DEATH TOLL, ADDS CONDEMNATION
By Shadi Khan Saif
KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) – A suicide bomber on Tuesday attacked a crowd of protesters in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 32 people and leaving over 100 others wounded, an official confirmed.
An hour after the blast this afternoon, Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province, told Anadolu Agency the suicide attack took place on the main Torkham highway in Momand Dara district close to the crossing point with Pakistan.
He said the locals had gathered for a demonstration when the lone attacker detonated his explosives.
Provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat expressed grief over the incident and offered condolences to the families of the victims, in an official statement. He also instructed the provincial public health officials to utilize all available resources for the treatment of the wounded.
The local Salam Afghanistan radio reported that the residents of the Daka region were protesting against the local pro-government militia commander when the attack took place.
There has been no immediate claim of responsibility, however, the region is among the strongest bastions of the pro-Daesh militants in the country.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has condemned the attack on civilians in Nangarhar. “I feel profound indignation at this latest wave of attacks deliberately targeting civilians. Our deepest sympathy is with the victims, families and the Afghan people,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the secretary-general’s special representative for Afghanistan.
