KABUL, Afghanistan — At least six people have been killed and 87 injured following three explosions at a funeral in Kabul on Saturday, the Ministry of Interior said.

Mourners were paying their respects to Salim Ayzadyar, the son of an Afghan senator, when three suicide bombers detonated explosives, Afghan chief executive Abdullah Abdullah told state television.

Abdullah, who is the country's second-most powerful man, was also at the funeral but was unharmed.

Simonetta Gola a spokesperson for Emergency Hospital told NBC News they had received 16 patients, but could not confirm their conditions.

Ayzadyar died during violent clashes between Afghan police and protesters at a demonstration in Kabul on Friday.

More than a thousand demonstrators descended into the streets to demand more security in the capital after a rush-hour suicide bomb killed at least 90 people and wounded more than 450 on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.

The demonstration left seven people dead and 10 others injured, according to Najeeb Danish the spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of the Interior.

Most of the casualties of Wednesday's blast were civilians and many of those killed were women and children, according to authorities.

Eleven U.S. citizen contractor personnel were injured, but none of the injuries are considered life threatening, a U.S. State Department official said.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Ahmed Mengli reported from Kabul and Saphora Smith reported from London. </s> KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Latest on developments in Afghanistan (all times local):

An Afghan official says explosions in Kabul have killed at least four people attending a funeral reportedly attended by government officials, including members of parliament.

Najib Danish, Interior Ministry deputy spokesman, says three explosions rocked a cemetery where Sen. Alam Ezadyar’s son was about to be buried. Salim Ezadyar was killed during a protest Friday attended by hundreds in Kabul, said.

Ezadyar is deputy speaker for the upper house of the country’s parliament.

More than a thousand people demonstrated Friday demanding more security in the capital following a powerful truck bomb attack in the city that killed 90 people and wounded more than 450. Officials say several were killed and wounded.

A demonstration in downtown Kabul that left several people dead has entered a second day.

More than a thousand people demonstrated Friday demanding more security in the capital following a powerful truck bomb attack in the city that killed 90 people and wounded more than 450.

Scores of protesters passed the night under two big tents on a road near the presidential palace and the blast site. All roads toward the palace and diplomatic areas are being blocked Saturday by police and there is limited movement of vehicles and people.

On Friday, demonstrators rushed toward police who fired warning shots and when they attempted to move closer to the palace, police sprayed them with hoses from a water tanker and later fired tear gas. </s> By The Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan Public Health Ministry official says explosions at funeral in Kabul kill at least 4. </s> KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan Public Health Ministry official says explosions at funeral in Kabul kill at least 4. </s> At least 50 people were killed and 75 injured in the bombing of a crowded religious gathering in Kabul on Tuesday.

Afghan officials were trying to determine the exact toll of dead and wounded after the attack at the Uranus Wedding Palace, near Kabul’s international airport. Wahid Majrooh, spokesman for the public health ministry, said 24 of the wounded were in critical condition.

Witnesses said there were a thousand people inside the hall when the explosion took place. They included clerics and religious scholars along with others who had gathered to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, a national holiday in Afghanistan.

Najib Danish, the spokesman for the interior ministry, called it a suicide bombing and confirmed the death toll. President Ashraf Ghani called the attack “a crime against Islam and humanity” and declared Wednesday a national day of mourning.

Shamsul Dua (50), an ice cream vendor, emerged from the hall with his hands, feet and clothing covered in blood. He said the explosion took place seven or eight minutes after the gathering began. “I could only see smoke and debris started falling from the ceiling,” he said. “I personally saw 30 or 40 dead.”

Mr Dua said he had ridden 40 minutes on his bicycle to attend the gathering, which was held at the hall annually. It was 40 minutes before ambulances arrived to evacuate many of the wounded, he said.

Ambulances were seen still coming and going from the wedding palace an hour after the blast, which took place at about 6.15pm (1.45pm Irish time).

Muhammad Hashim (36), a survivor, said the blast occurred as verses from the Koran were being recited to begin the commemoration. “A lot of people were trampled as others were trying to flee,” he said. “There are a lot more than 40 dead in there.”

Nek Amal (18), was among many who gathered outside the hall seeking news of friends and family members inside. “My brother is inside and I’ve been trying to reach him but he is not answering the phone,” Mr Amal said. “He is there with many friends of his and they’re not answering their phones either.”

Wedding halls, mosques and religious gatherings have been particular targets of the Islamic State terror group in Afghanistan, but there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. It was the first major bombing in the capital since an Islamic State suicide bomber struck a wrestling gym in September, killing as many as 30 wrestlers during a training session.

After a period of frequent, gruesome attacks against soft targets in the capital over the summer, Afghan security forces have made it a priority to disrupt Islamic State cells in Kabul, with assistance ordered by the new commander of US and Nato troops in the country, Gen Austin Scott Miller.

Dozens of suspects were arrested in the capital in September on the eve of Ashura, a Shia annual commemoration that has frequently been targeted. Officials believe those raids significantly lowered the number of attacks.

The Taliban, still responsible for most of the escalating violence throughout the country, have disavowed attacks on civilian targets. There has been speculation that Taliban insurgents, at least, have been refraining from suicide attacks in the capital as they explore preliminary peace talks with the US government. – New York Times </s> More than 100 injured at funeral attended by high-ranking Afghan officials just days after deadly truck bomb in capital

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

At least seven people have been killed and more than 119 wounded in three separate explosions at a high-profile funeral in Kabul, the third attack in four days in the Afghan capital.

Why deadly Kabul bombing is crisis for all of Afghanistan | Emma Graham-Harrison Read more

The funeral was for one of several protesters killed on Friday at a large demonstration calling for the resignation of the government after a large truck bomb killed nearly 100 people on Wednesday.

The ministry of public health said seven people had been killed on Saturday, while Reuters reported up to 12 dead. Wahid Mujro, a ministry spokesman, said 119 people had been injured. Numbers were likely to rise, given the density of the crowd of more than a thousand people.

The funeral for Salem Izidyar, the son of the senate deputy speaker, was attended by many high-ranking current and former officials, including the country’s chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah. According to his office, Abdullah was not hurt in the explosions.

After the blasts, Abdullah drove to Izidyar’s grave and participated in the burial, said his spokesman, Mujib Rahman Rahimi. On returning to his residence, Abdullah spoke on national television.

Lotfullah Najafizada (@LNajafizada) Dr Abdullah, who survived today's funeral blasts, appears live from his home in Kabul. pic.twitter.com/k8qxQeCcPd

The first blast, which some attendees said came from an improvised explosive device, went off during the pre-burial prayer. It was followed by two more, when a pair of suicide bombers detonated their explosives.

Toryalai Shufaee, an aide to Zubair Massoud, the son of the former vice-president Ahmad Zia Massoud, who was at the funeral, said: “When I woke up, I saw dust everywhere and dead bodies, bodies that had been burned.”

Other prominent politicians at the ceremony included the foreign minister, Salahuddin Rabbani, and the former intelligence chief Amrullah Saleh. All escaped without serious injuries.

Footage of the explosions showed the consecutive blasts sending people running in all directions.

1TVNewsAF (@1TVNewsAF) ویدیوی صحنه انفجار در مراسم خاکسپاری سالم ایزدیار در کابل

‌blast footage at Kabul funeral pic.twitter.com/BkDCRNrEiW

Speaking to local media, Saleh criticised the government for failing to protect such a high-level gathering and called on the president, Ashraf Ghani, to review his security cabinet.

The suicide bombers reportedly posed as mourners in the crowd.

But Rahimi said “you cannot search everyone” with gatherings involving such large numbers.

The truck bombing in Kabul’s diplomatic quarter, one the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan since 2001, has left the streets of the capital tense and the foreign community anxious. On Friday, the German embassy evacuated from the country all its staff, except the ambassador and military attache.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the funeral bombs, but Izidyar’s father, Mohammad Alam Izidyar, is a prominent member of the anti-Taliban Jamiat-e Islami party. </s> At least 12 people were killed and scores of people were injured as a series of explosions ripped through a funeral procession in Kabul on Saturday, eye witnesses told Reuters. However, the Afghan media reported the toll to be as high as 18.

Health Ministry spokesperson Wahidullah Majroh said six bodies had been recovered so far, reported The New York Times. The explosions took place at the funeral for Mohammad Salim Izadyar, the son of the deputy Senate speaker. Izadyar had died during anti-government protests on June 2.

Among those injured included several senior security officials. However, Government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, who were present at the funeral, were unharmed. “Barbaric terrorists have turned a funeral into a slaughterhouse,” said Rabbani, according to The New York Times.

While the Taliban’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid denied any role, no other group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. Mujahid said the attack was a fallout of factional rivalries in the government, according to Reuters.

The attack comes four days after a truck bomb had killed 90 people and injured more than 350. The Afghanistan intelligence had accused Taliban-allied Haqqani network of perpetrating the blast in Kabul. </s> KABUL, Nov 20 — At least 40 people were killed in an explosion at a meeting of top clerics in Kabul today, officials said, in one of the deadliest attacks to strike the Afghan capital in months.

Another 60 people were wounded in the blast, health ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said, which targeted an Ulema Council gathering at a wedding hall to mark the Prophet Mohammad’s birthday.

“Initial information suggests it was caused by a suicide bomber,” interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said.

He said the number of dead and wounded was “more than 50” so far.

A manager of Uranus Wedding Palace, which also hosts political and religious functions, told AFP a suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of the gathering.

“There are a lot of casualties—I myself have counted 30 casualties,” he told AFP on the condition of anonymity. — AFP </s> A number of people have been killed in explosions near a funeral in Kabul just days after a powerful truck bomb attack killed more than 80 and wounded hundreds.

The explosions rocked a cemetery where a local senator's son was about to be buried, Interior Ministry deputy spokesman Najib Danish said.

Mr Danish said at least six people had been killed, while a witness who did not want to be quoted by name told the Reuters news agency that 12 people had died and 18 had been wounded.

Afghanistan's Tolo News television reported that as many as 18 had been killed.

Mr Danish said government officials, including members of Parliament, had been at the funeral, which was being held for Salim Ezadyar, the son of Senator Alam Ezadyar.

Alam Ezadyar is deputy speaker for the upper house of the Afghanistan Parliament.

Government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah was at the funeral, but was unharmed, a statement from his office said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The Taliban, which has often carried out bomb attacks in the past, issued a swift denial that it had any role and instead blamed factional rivalries in the Government's own camp, the group's spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

The explosions follow Wednesday's powerful truck bomb attack, which killed more than 80 people and wounded hundreds.

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of downtown Kabul demanding better security in the capital in the wake of the truck attack.

Several demonstrators were killed and police were injured in the protests, authorities said.

Salim Ezadyar was one of the demonstrators killed during the protest on Friday.

The nature of Friday's demonstration shifted when protesters — many calling for the country's leadership to resign — attempted to move closer to the palace and some rushed police, who fired warning shots and used water cannons and eventually tear gas in attempt to disperse the crowd.

The city's police chief said some demonstrators fired weapons in the direction of his men.

A member of Parliament said on Friday that eight protesters had been shot dead, while a hospital official said four corpses were brought to his facility.

Police said two protesters were killed on Friday and 25 police injured, but would not comment on the number of fatalities when asked to clarify the death toll on Saturday.

The truck attack was one of the deadliest attacks in the 16-year Afghanistan intervention.
According to the Interior Ministry, three blasts at a funeral attended by MPs and government figures in Kabul kill at least seven people and wound 119 more.