Islamic State militants have claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that ripped through Afghanistan's capital on Saturday, leaving over 80 dead and 230 wounded, according to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. It is among the deadliest attacks in Kabul since the U.S. invaded Afghanistan in 2001.
Thousands of Shi'ite Hazara, Afghanistan's third-largest minority, had gathered Saturday afternoon to protest the route chosen for the development of a multi-million-dollar power line in the capital when twin bombs were detonated. Reuters reports that officials from Afghanistan's main intelligence agency believe three members of ISIS (a Sunni group) perpetrated the attack.
A statement released by the Afghan Interior Ministry put the death toll at 80, up from 30 earlier Saturday afternoon. Reports haveflooded social media that hospitals are struggling to meet demands for space and for blood.
The agency has also announced a ban on "any kind of demonstration and gathering" for the next 10 days.
Also according to Reuters, thousands of Hazara marched through the capital last November to protest a lack of government action after Islamist militants beheaded seven members of the Hazara community.
Ghani described himself as "deeply grieved" in a press release published Saturday afternoon, and declared that July 24 would serve as a national day of mourning.
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