A T20 cricket match is rocked by a bomb at the International Cricket Stadium in Kabul after a grenade blast kills at least 19 people.
- Afghanistan T20 match interrupted by suspected suicide blast at Kabul Central Stadium
- Sec-Gen. of the UN claims at least 19 dead, contradicting official reports of zero deaths
- All players and match officials in the Shpageeza League match were said to be safe
- The match restarted after clean-up at the Kabul International Cricket Stadium
By Nishan Chilkuri and Adam Solomons for Mailonline
Published: 01:53, 30 July 2022 | Updated: 08:18, 30 July 2022
At least 19 people are believed to have died in a suicide bombing at a cricket match in Kabul.
The country’s Shpageeza League T20 competition was staged at the Kabul International Cricket Stadium on Friday afternoon, and the blast took place at around 4.30pm.
Local reports indicated that four were injured and none were killed.
But UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted a condemnation of the terrorist blast, “which claimed the lives of at least 19 civilians and caused further casualties.”
Fan video shows smoke rising above one corner of the stadium as fans flee to the surrounding area (left). Right: There did not appear to be any major structural damage to the stadium
He added: “Attacks against civilians and civilian objects are strictly prohibited by international humanitarian law.”
Estimates of how many were killed have yet to be verified.
Taliban spokesman Khalid Zadran told Reuters earlier in the day: “The match stopped for a while.
“After the area was cleared, the match was restarted.”
Fans (left) were seen fleeing the affected part of the stadium, some of them entering the pitch. Right: A young fan walks away from the blast zone at the cricket ground
Taliban soldiers were pictured patrolling the area around the stadium tonight after the bomb
A member of Taliban law enforcement watches as authorities investigate the attack today
Afghanistan Cricket Board chief executive Nassib Khan insisted all players and match officials were safe, with four injured in the crowd.
Spectator video showed major disruption throughout the stadium following the bomb.
Local hospitals received “many” casualties from the blast, according to an envoy from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.
I strongly condemn Friday’s attack on the Kabul International Cricket Stadium, which claimed the lives of at least 19 civilians and caused further casualties.
Attacks against civilians and civilian objects are strictly prohibited by international humanitarian law.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) July 29, 2022
Taliban officials claimed the match had restarted, but it was not immediately clear that was the case
Cricket Board chief executive Nassib Khan insisted all players and match officials were safe
Special Representative Dr Ramiz Alakbarov said: “Today’s blast is another chilling reminder of the terrifying and sudden violence to which the people of Afghanistan continue to be exposed.”
“Sport brings hope to people, inspires children and generations alike, plays a crucial role in breaking down barriers and bringing communities together, and serves as an important source of pride.
“I reiterate that directing attacks against the population, including sports facilities, is strictly prohibited.”
Dozens of heavily armed Taliban enforcers were pictured surrounding the stadium tonight
Officials downplayed the scale of the attack, but the scale of the damage could not be quantified