IG News Updates,
At least 16 journalists have been injured in a bomb blast at a cultural center in Afghanistan’s northern province of Balkh.
The blast occurred at the Tabayan Shia Cultural Center in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, where journalists were attending an award ceremony to mark National Journalists’ Day.
There were conflicting reports about the total number of casualties.
Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Nafey Takur said a security guard was killed and eight others, including five journalists, were injured in the blast caused by the explosives.
However, the cultural center’s media outlet, known as Avapress, gave more details on the number of casualties.
The center said three people were killed and 30 others were injured in the attack.
The Center said that 25 journalists were present at the award ceremony.
Tabayan is a pro-Iranian cultural center.
In 2017, the Islamic State (IS) extremist group claimed responsibility for an attack on a branch of the center in Kabul, which killed at least 50 people.
Following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, IS has stepped up its attacks in Afghanistan, mainly targeting religious minorities, Taliban members as well as foreign diplomatic posts.
Taliban security forces periodically carry out operations against IS targets in different parts of the country.
On Thursday, IS claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed Dawood Muzammil, the governor of Balkh province, and two others in his office.
Muzammil is one of the most senior Taliban officials killed since the Taliban took power.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Saturday’s attack.