KABUL // At least six people were killed on Saturday when a trio of suicide bombers struck a funeral in Kabul attended by senior government officials, just three days after a powerful bomb packed into a lorry exploded in one of the most heavily guarded parts of the capital, killing 90 people and injuring more than 450.
The suicide bombers struck at the funeral of Salim Izadyar, the son of Mohammad Alan Izadyar, the deputy speaker of the Afghan senate and former Northern Alliance warlord who fought against the Taliban in 2001. .
Izadyar was killed on Friday during the protest calling for the government to improve security or quit. A day later, three explosions rocked the cemetery where mourners including government ministers, senators and members of parliament had gathered at 3pm for his burial ceremony.
Several of the officials present were among the injured. One witness said he saw 24 bodies lying on the ground.
Another witness, Nur Ahmad said the first blast came as the imam began to intone the first prayer.
“A second later, there was an explosion close to the imam. He was martyred and everyone in the line of people closest to him were injured,” said Mr Ahmad. “ I also saw that the father of the dead man was injured.”
Another mourner at the funeral, Fareed, said he saw the suicide bombers approach.
“Yes, I saw them, the suicide bombers. Half their bodies were left behind and people tied them up to the back of a Corolla car and drove them away,” Fareed said. “I can’t understand how they managed to enter with bombs, when we were all searched by the security forces when we arrived. They checked men for arms too but still the suicide bombers were able to get in and get to us and kill and hurt so many people. I can’t explain how I managed to escape, except that God saved me.”
As with the lorry bombing, no one claimed responsibility for the attack, and the Taliban denied any involvement.
The string of high-profile attacks has raised serious concerns about the ability of Afghan authorities and security forces to provide even the most basic levels of protection for citizens.
Wahid Mujro, spokesman for the public health ministry, said 87 people were wounded in the funeral attack. Izadyar was one of several people killed on Friday when police clashed with protesters who were demanding better security in the capital.
Afghanistan’s chief executive Abdullah Abdullah was in attendance at the funeral and appeared live on television afterward. He said the explosions came from a trio of suicide bombers and demanded an investigation into how the attackers were able to get so close to a funeral attended by senior government officials. Mr Abdullah also called for an investigation into whether police used live fire against protesters 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 then tear gas in attempt to disperse the crowd. The city’s police chief said some demonstrators fired weapons in the direction of his men.
Exactly how many protesters were killed remains unclear. A parliamentary source said it was eight, hospital officials said they received four bodies and on Friday police said there were two fatalities but refused to say whether the number had changed by Saturday.
At an emergency security meeting on Saturday, president Ashraf Ghani and senior security officials called for an investigation into the nature of the deadly violence at the protest.
Mr Ghani spoke briefly on television and called for national unity.
“Terrorist groups plot to sow chaos. Their aim is to create poor governance and disorder in communities,” he said. “We must not let ourselves fall into the trap that the enemies have brought to our country.”
* with additional reporting from Associated Press