Afghanistan: Suicide bombing kills 19 in Jalalabad, 10 belong to Sikh community

According to the officials, in the eastern city of Jalalabad, suicide bombing occurred in which not less than 19 people died including 10 members of Afghanistan’s Sikh minority.

On Sunday, 1st July 2018, the blast damaged shops and buildings around Mukhaberat square as reported by Attaullah Khogyani, the provincial governor’s spokesperson.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani inaugurated a hospital in the city, the provincial capital of Nangarhar on the same day and few hours later bombing occurred.

“The explosion was caused by a suicide bomber who targeted a vehicle carrying members of the Sikh minority who were travelling to meet the president,” said Ghulam Sanayi Stanekzai, Nangarhar’s police chief.

“19 people had been killed and 20 wounded. Officials said at least 10 of the dead were Sikhs,” said Inaamullah Miakhel, a spokesman for the provincial health department of Nangarhar.

According to officials, the casualty total might have been much higher had much of the city not been blocked off for the visit by Ghani, who was not in the area when the blast occurred.

Local media reported that security forces immediately isolate the site of the explosion as ambulances transferred victims to hospital.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

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