Kabul (Afghanistan): Explosives detonated by terrorists said to be linked to the so called Islamic State today killed 80 people and wounded 230 at Deh Mazang square here.
The IS-linked Amaq news agency claimed two fighters “detonated explosive belts at a gathering of Shia”. The attack has been condemned by Taliban.
The attack was aimed at thousands belonging to the Shia Hazara minority that was protesting against a new power line, saying its route bypassed their provinces.
President of India Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the loss of lives in the Kabul blast. The President said “I am shocked and saddened to learn ofthe blast which hit Deh Mazang square in Kabul today. I strongly condemn the perpetrators of the incident.
In his message, the President said; “I convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in the blast and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The Government of India stands ready to extend all possible assistance to the Government and people of Afghanistan.”
Istanbul: About 41 people, at least 13 of them foreigners, have been killed and hundreds of others have been injured in a terrorist attack on Istanbul’s Ataturk airport, officials say.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after the attack during the month of Ramadan “terrorism strikes with no regard for faith and values.”
While no one has admitted the attack, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said initial signs point to so-called Islamic State.
The US has condemned the attack. In a statement, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said: “The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms today’s heinous terrorist attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport in Turkey, which appears to have killed and injured dozens. Ataturk International Airport, like Brussels Airport which was attacked earlier this year, is a symbol of international connections and the ties that bind us together. Our deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those killed, and we wish a speedy recovery to those injured. We remain steadfast in our support for Turkey, our NATO Ally and partner, along with all of our friends and allies around the world, as we continue to confront the threat of terrorism.”
According to available reports, 3 attackers came to the airport in a cab and opened fire at the terminal entrance late on Tuesday. They blew themselves up when police opened fire but not before a total of three bombs had exploded. One of these bombs exploded on the pavement just outside the perminal while another at the security gate at the entrance to the terminal.
Orlando: A gunman used an assault rifle and killed 50 and injured 53 others at a Florida gay nightclub early Sunday.
The gunman, identified as Omar Saddiqui Mateen, opened fire at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in central Florida, early on Sunday, killing 50 people and wounding 53 others before he was killed in an exchange of fire with the SWAT team.
Authorities are describing this as an act of radical Islamic terrorism.
According to available reports, police believe that the slain gunman had pledged support to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the ISIL (Islamic State) leader.
The US President Barack Obama has called the Orlando massacre as an act of Terror.
The US President Barack Obama speaks on tragic shootout at Orlando in Florida, USA
In a statement Obama said:
“Today, as Americans, we grieve the brutal murder — a horrific massacre — of dozens of innocent people. We pray for their families, who are grasping for answers with broken hearts. We stand with the people of Orlando, who have endured a terrible attack on their city. Although it’s still early in the investigation, we know enough to say that this was an act of terror and an act of hate. And as Americans, we are united in grief, in outrage, and in resolve to defend our people.
I just finished a meeting with FBI Director Comey and my homeland security and national security advisors. The FBI is on the scene and leading the investigation, in partnership with local law enforcement. I’ve directed that the full resources of the federal government be made available for this investigation.
We are still learning all the facts. This is an open investigation. We’ve reached no definitive judgment on the precise motivations of the killer. The FBI is appropriately investigating this as an act of terrorism. And I’ve directed that we must spare no effort to determine what — if any — inspiration or association this killer may have had with terrorist groups. What is clear is that he was a person filled with hatred. Over the coming days, we’ll uncover why and how this happened, and we will go wherever the facts lead us.
This morning I spoke with my good friend, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and I conveyed the condolences of the entire American people. This could have been any one of our communities. So I told Mayor Dyer that whatever help he and the people of Orlando need — they are going to get it. As a country, we will be there for the people of Orlando today, tomorrow and for all the days to come.
We also express our profound gratitude to all the police and first responders who rushed into harm’s way. Their courage and professionalism saved lives, and kept the carnage from being even worse. It’s the kind of sacrifice that our law enforcement professionals make every single day for all of us, and we can never thank them enough.
This is an especially heartbreaking day for all our friends — our fellow Americans — who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The shooter targeted a nightclub where people came together to be with friends, to dance and to sing, and to live. The place where they were attacked is more than a nightclub — it is a place of solidarity and empowerment where people have come together to raise awareness, to speak their minds, and to advocate for their civil rights.
So this is a sobering reminder that attacks on any American — regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation — is an attack on all of us and on the fundamental values of equality and dignity that define us as a country. And no act of hate or terror will ever change who we are or the values that make us Americans.
Today marks the most deadly shooting in American history. The shooter was apparently armed with a handgun and a powerful assault rifle. This massacre is therefore a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon that lets them shoot people in a school, or in a house of worship, or a movie theater, or in a nightclub. And we have to decide if that’s the kind of country we want to be. And to actively do nothing is a decision as well.
In the coming hours and days, we’ll learn about the victims of this tragedy. Their names. Their faces. Who they were. The joy that they brought to families and to friends, and the difference that they made in this world. Say a prayer for them and say a prayer for their families — that God give them the strength to bear the unbearable. And that He give us all the strength to be there for them, and the strength and courage to change. We need to demonstrate that we are defined more — as a country — by the way they lived their lives than by the hate of the man who took them from us.
As we go together, we will draw inspiration from heroic and selfless acts — friends who helped friends, took care of each other and saved lives. In the face of hate and violence, we will love one another. We will not give in to fear or turn against each other. Instead, we will stand united, as Americans, to protect our people, and defend our nation, and to take action against those who threaten us.
May God bless the Americans we lost this morning. May He comfort their families. May God continue to watch over this country that we love. Thank you.”
Baghdad: A suicide bomber killed at least 40 people, who participating at a funeral in Iraq’s eastern province of Diyala. In another suicide blast at a security checkpost in the western part of Baghdad more than two dozen security personnel were killed on Monday.
The attack in Muqdadiya, about 80 km northeast of Baghdad, killed six commanders of the Hashid Shaabi umbrella group of Shi’ite militias who were attending the funeral. According to reports received here, 58 people were injured, some of them critically in this incident.
Islamic State, the ultra Sunni group controlling a big area of northern and western Iraq, has claimed responsibility for the violent blast at the cremation.
In a separate attack in the western Baghdad outskirts of Abu Ghraib, the Islamic State inflicted heavy casualties. The attack on security positions here on Sunday left 24 dead. The attackers were eventually repelled by Army forces and attack helicopters.
Kabul (Afghanistan): Explosives detonated by terrorists said to be linked to the so called Islamic State today killed 80 people and wounded 230 at Deh Mazang square here.
