WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a protest march in Afghanistan on Saturday that killed at least 80 people and wounded another 231, officials said. The death toll is likely to rise as the condition of many of the injured is very serious.
A suicide bomber detonated his explosives-packed clothing among a large crowd of ethnic Hazaras in Kabul. The largely peaceful demonstrators were demanding that a a multi-million dollar regional electric power line pass through their impoverished Bamiyan province. Hazaras are long oppressed as most Hazaras are Shia Muslims, while most Afghans are Sunni.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he was deeply saddened by the casualties in the attack, which included security officials.
In a statement, the IS jihadists claimed responsibility for twin explosions on Saturday, while the Taliban, who are more powerful than the IS group, strongly denied any involvement in the attack.
Amnesty International stated, 'Such attacks are a reminder that the conflict in Afghanistan is not winding down, as some believe, but escalating, with consequences for the human rights situation in the country that should alarm us all.'
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