Afghan journalist killed in Kabul minibus bomb blast
- At least four other people were injured in the explosion near a Taliban checkpoint
- The area is dominated by members of the mostly Shiite Hazara community, who for years have been the target of violence by the Islamic State group
A well-known Afghan journalist was killed and at least four other people injured Saturday when a suspected bomb destroyed a minibus near a Taliban checkpoint in Kabul, a media watchdog and officials said.
The incident happened in Dasht-e Barchi, a Kabul suburb dominated by members of the mostly Shiite Hazara community, who for years have been the target of violence by the Islamic State group.
“Unfortunately we lost another reporter,” the Afghan Journalists Centre tweeted hours after the blast, saying Hamid Seighani, who worked for the Ariana television network, had died in the blast.
His wife, also a journalist, posted “I lost Hamid” on her Facebook page.
Since the Taliban returned to power on August 15, dozens of bombs have been set off in eastern Nangarhar province – a hotbed of Isis activity – but the capital Kabul has largely escaped such violence.
“I was in my car and an explosion happened in the vehicle in front of us,” a witness said. “It was completely burnt.”
