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Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 30 Jul 2022
Image; Twitter viral video grab
Kabul: As many as 19 spectators are believed to have died as a blast hit Kabul International Cricket Stadium in Afghanistan's capital city while a match was ongoing on Friday.
Local media reports, however, claimed four people were hurt in the blast.
The exact number of casualties in the incident is still not clear.
The cricket match between Pamir Zalmi and Band-e-Amir Dragons was taking place when the blast occurred.
I strongly condemn Friday’s attack at the Kabul International Cricket Stadium, which claimed the lives of at least 19 civilians & caused additional casualties.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) July 29, 2022
Attacks against civilians and civilian objects are strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law.
The explosion was triggered by a grenade, according to Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran, who said the incident caused a short delay, Pajhwok Afghan News reported.
Meanwhile, the incident earned international condemnation.
UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres tweeted: "I strongly condemn Friday’s attack at the Kabul International Cricket Stadium, which claimed the lives of at least 19 civilians & caused additional casualties."
Deeply saddened by reports of an explosion at the Kabul International Cricket Stadium during a cricket match today. Our thoughts are with the injured. Violence serves no purpose and is not the answer for the people of Afghanistan.
— U.S. Special Representative Thomas West (@US4AfghanPeace) July 29, 2022
"Attacks against civilians and civilian objects are strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law," he said.
US special envoy for Afghanistan, Thomas West, tweeted: "Deeply saddened by reports of an explosion at the Kabul International Cricket Stadium during a cricket match today. Our thoughts are with the injured. Violence serves no purpose and is not the answer for the people of Afghanistan."
The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (#OIC) condemned in the most vigorous terms the blast that rocked #Kabul International cricket stadium during a game on Friday 29 July 2022, wounding four spectators and briefly halting the game. pic.twitter.com/n4vOZ1ixzb
— OIC (@OIC_OCI) July 30, 2022
The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the incident and posted on Twitter: "The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (#OIC) condemned in the most vigorous terms the blast that rocked #Kabul International cricket stadium during a game on Friday 29 July 2022, wounding four spectators and briefly halting the game."