Three journalists injured in a roadside bomb blast in Northern Balkh province

28 August 2020

Mazar-e-Sharif: Three local journalists have injured on Friday when their vehicle hit an IED in Northern Balkh province, an official said.

Habibullah Najafizada AFJC provincial representative in Balkh said Mohammed Bashir Ansari, reporter and Najeeb Faryad, cameraman of Ariananews TV, and Aziz Karimi reporter of 1TV were injured in a roadside explosion in Chahar Bolok district around 10.pm last night.

The journalists were returning from their work on a documentary project in Jouzjan and Sar-e-Pul provinces to Mazar-e-Sharif when their vehicle hit the IED, Najafizada added

The journalists were taken to 209th Shaheen corps army hospital in Mazar-e-Sharif for the treatment, officials said.

Mohammed Bashir Ansari had fractured bones in the shoulder area transferred to India for specialized care and treatment.

Zabiullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesperson claimed the responsibility for the bombing, however, denied that the journalists were deliberately targeted.

On May 30, an IED explosion killed Khurshid TV journalist, Mirwahidshah(Zamir) Amiri and studio technician Shafiq Zabih in Kabul.

Condemning the attack, the director of the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) urged the authorities to arrest the perpetrators to send a message that targeting journalists will not be tolerated with impunity and take strong measures to ensure the safety of journalists around the country.