Blast rocks Herat as opposition leaders gather

HERAT CITY (PAN): A powerful explosion rocked this western city on Thursday as a planned political gathering of opposition leaders, including Ahmad Zia Massoud, had just begun, officials said.

Massoud, Haji Mohammad Muhaqiq and Faizullah Zaki were to address thousands of supporters at a stadium when the blast occurred at around 10:30am, 100 metres away from the venue and 50 metres close to the governor’s house, a security official said on condition of anonymity.

The explosives had been planted on a cycle that went off as people started arriving at the meeting site. Two people sustained injuries, he said.

But Herat hospital director Dr. Mohammad Rafique said four injured people had  been brought to the hospital from the scene. “They are in a stable condition,” he said.

The National Front of Afghanistan (NFA) leaders were away when the blast took place. They were expected to address the gathering.

Western zone police spokesman Abdul Rauf Ahmadi said there was a second explosion in the Guzri district, but it caused no injuries.

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