Blasts at funeral ceremony kills 4 in Afghan capital

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - At least four people were killed and 11 others wounded when multiple blasts ripped through a funeral and burial ceremony at a cemetery in the capital Kabul on Saturday, according to a Health Ministry official.

Waheed Majroh, spokesman for Ministry of Public Health, told Anadolu Agency the nature of blasts were not yet known.

Local media outlets claim the death toll could be as high as 20.

Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah, Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani and other high-ranking officials were said to be present at the time of blasts. They were there to pay homage to Salim Ezidyar, the slain son of Mohammad Elim Ezidyar -- deputy speaker of the parliament’s upper house-- who died on Friday when people protesting against Wednesday’s truck bombing clashed with police.

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has condemned the “outrageous attack on mourners burying the martyred. The country is under attack. We must be strong and united.”