JALALABAD - A suicide bomber
blew himself up at an election rally in Afghanistan's eastern
province of Nangarhar on Tuesday, killing at least 13 people and
wounding more than 30, officials said, warning that the toll was
likely to climb.
Campaigning for the Oct. 20 parliamentary election began on
Friday and security officials have warned of the danger of
militant attacks during the campaigning.
The parliamentary election, delayed by three years, comes
amid rising violence nationwide.
Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor in
Nangarhar, said at least 13 bodies were taken to hospitals, but
others said the toll was likely to be higher.
"Elders were speaking at the meeting when there was suddenly
a huge blast," said Sayed Humayoun, who had been at the rally in
Kama district, outside the provincial capital Jalalabad.
"I was knocked unconscious but when I opened my eyes there
were bodies scattered all around the blast area," he said,
adding that he could see dozens of dead and wounded.
Around 250 people had been at the rally, said Sohrab Qaderi,
a member of the provincial council, adding that at least 30 were
killed and dozens more wounded.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in a
statement carried by its Amaq news agency. The
group has claimed a series of attacks this year that have killed
scores of people in Nangarhar, on the border with Pakistan.
Another explosion took place at a cricket ground in
Nangarhar's Bati Kot district on Tuesday afternoon.
"Seven children aged between 12 and 15 years were injured in
the blast at the playground," Khogyani said.
The parliamentary election is seen as both a dry run for the
more important presidential election next year, and a test of
the government's ability to provide security.
Officials say sustained violence could delay the process if
it becomes unsafe for voters to go to polling stations.