A twin suicide attack in Afghani capital Kabul has killed 25 people including up to nine journalists, with one bomber having disguised himself as a member of the media before detonating a bomb among reporters.
Among those confirmed dead is Agence France-Presse photographer Shah Marai, the agency’s chief photographer in Kabul, two journalists from local TV station 1TV and a cameraman for local TV station Tolo.
The coordinated explosions are believed to have injured at least 45 others.
Police spokesman Hashmat Stanekzai told the Press Association that the first suicide bomber was on a motorbike while the second rushed to the scene of the first explosion along with reporters, disguised as one of them, before detonating a second bomb.
Marai was part of the group of journalists killed in the second explosion.
AFP global news director Michele Leridon has described his death as a “devastating blow for the close-knit Kabul bureau and the entire agency”.
She added: “Marai was a treasured colleague who spent more than 15 years documenting the tragic conflict in Afghanistan for AFP.
“We can only honour the extraordinary strength, courage and generosity of a photographer who covered often traumatic, horrific events with sensitivity and consummate professionalism.
“We also send our condolences to the families of other journalists killed in this terrible attack.”
Sediqullah Tawhidi, an official from the Afghan Journalist Safety Committee, said a cameraman from the local Tolo TV also was killed.
The suicide attacks took place in the central Shash Darak area, which is home to the NATO headquarters and a number of embassies in Afghanistan.
Kabul chief of police Dawood Amin said the area of Kabul that was targeted, which includes many foreign embassies, was quickly sealed off.
Islamic State and Taliban regularly carry out attacks in the Afghan capital although neither have claimed responsibility for these latest bombings at the time of reporting.
In a blog post from 2016 Marai commented on the difficulties of reporting in Kabul.
He presciently said: “Life seems to be even more difficult than under the Taliban because of the insecurity. I don’t dare to take my children for a walk. I have five and they spend their time cooped up inside the house.
“Every morning as I go to the office and every evening when I return home, all I think of are cars that can be booby-trapped, or of suicide bombers coming out of a crowd. I can’t take the risk. So we don’t go out.”
Photo credit AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini