Police among dozens wounded as protest turns violent

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 24 people, including 17 policemen, were wounded on Saturday when a rally against the publication of Prophet Mohammad’s caricatures by the French magazine Charlie Hebdo turned violent in Kabul, an official said.

The protest erupted at around 8: 00am in Hoodkhail area and turned out violent after police stopped the demonstrators. Ahmad Mukhtar, an eyewitness, said police pushed back the protestors and some gun-wielding demonstrator resorted to firing.

Police spokesman Hashmatullah Stanikzai told Pajhwok Afghan News the policemen were injured when protesters pelted stones at them. He said the injured had been shifted to hospital and the situation was under control. No one was killed, he explained.

Police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said: “The protest was against the law because police were not informed in advance. Some gangsters misused the opportunity by opening fire at policemen,” he claimed, saying police dispersed the demonstrators while investigation into gunfire was underway.

Earlier in different parts of Afghanistan, several peaceful protests have been staged to condemn the French government and the magazine for publishing the blasphemous drawings.

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