By Mustafa Kazemi
Nimruz (Afghanistan) – Five Afghan teenagers are killed during a casual sports match in a shooting by unidentified gunmen in Eastern Afghanistan this afternoon.
Afghan youth play soccer on the outskirts of Herat on January 17, 2014 (AFP)
A late Thursday press release from Afghan President’s office said that the teens were playing casual sports with each other when attacked by gunmen on motorbikes in Alingar district of Eastern Laghman province.
“Gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on a number of teenagers in Sakhra Roy area of Alingar district, in result of which 5 teenagers playing sports were martyred” – the press release cited Falzlullah Mujadadi, governor of Laghman province.
“Afghan president condemns this attack in the strongest terms” – the statement added.
“Attacks of this sort have been increased recently on the innocent Afghan civilians have increased by the enemies of peace in Afghanistan” – Afghan President Hamid Karzai says while referring to a similar rocket attack on football players in southern Kandahar province.
President Karzai spoke over telephone with Governor Mujadadi and directed him to thoroughly investigate the incident and offer assistance to the victims’ families.
This is the second attack on Afghan civilians during sports matches in one week’s time interval.
On January 18th, a rocket attack on a football stadium in volatile southern Kandahar province’s Maiwand district killed 4 football players and injured 5 others.
All four of the fatalities were Maiwand district’s football team members.
No insurgent group has yet claimed responsibility for either of the attacks.
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