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Updated March 7th, 2019 at 14:54 IST

Kabul rattled with multiple explosions near political gathering of prominent Afghan leaders; Presidential candidate Abdul Latif Pedram wounded. LIVE updates

Multiple explosions rattled Afghanistan's capital, one at a large political ceremony in western Kabul on Thursday, with the event abruptly cancelled and sending attendees fleeing

Reported by: Aishwaria Sonavane
| Image: self
2: 54 IST, March 7th 2019

Multiple explosions rattled Afghanistan's capital, one at a large political ceremony in western Kabul on Thursday, with the event abruptly canceled and sending attendees fleeing -- including leading government officials and politicians, including the Presidential candidate, Abdul Latif Pedram, who is known to be wounded in the attack.

The ceremony commemorated the 1995 death of prominent minority Hazara leader Abdul Ali Mazari who was killed by the Taliban. Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and former President Hamid Karzai were present at the gathering. 

At the event, along with Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and former president Hamid Karzai the former NSA Haneef Atmar, former Vice president Yunus Qanuni, Acting Foreign Minister, Salahuddin Rabbani, 2nd Deputy Chief Executive Mohammad Mohaqiq, and other officials were in attendance of the ceremony which came under attack.

READ| Afghanistan Summons Pakistan Envoy, Writes A Letter To UNSC Asking ‘to Take Decisive Action Against Known Terrorist And Extremist Groups On Its Territory’

"Stay calm, the area of the blast is far from us," said former lower house speaker Mohammad Younus Qanooni during a live broadcast of the event.

But moments after the announcement, another explosion could be heard that sent people running for the exit. 

Afghan officials say several explosions have struck outside a ceremony in Kabul attended by the country's chief executive and the former president, both of whom were unharmed. 

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast and no casualties have been reported.

(With AP inputs)

Published March 7th, 2019 at 14:34 IST

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