Kabul Attack: ISIS kills 8 journalists, 11 students, 20 others; 10 updates

Kabul attack: A suicide bomber in a vehicle attacked foreign military forces in the southern province of Kandahar, killing 11 children

At least 29 people, including eight journalists, were killed as two suicide bombers exploded themselves in quick succession in the Afghan capital on Monday. Hours later, another suicide attack killed 11 madrassa students in Kandahar province. The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the Kabul bombings where French news agency AFP's chief photographer Shah Marai was among the journalists killed. There was no claim of responsibility for the Kanhahar bloodbath.

A militant on a motorbike carried out the first explosion at 8 a.m. in Kabul's Shashdarak area in Police District 9 which houses the offices of Afghanistan's intelligence service, Defence Ministry, NATO and many embassies, prompting journalists to rush to the scene. Another bombing occurred about 20 minutes later when an attacker, posing as a cameraman, detonated explosives as journalists gathered at the site of the first blast. Eight media persons, including a woman, died in the second blast. The Islamic State claimed the twin blasts through its news agency Amaq and said the intelligence services headquarters was the target.

AFP said the death of its "treasured colleague" Shah Marai, who had written of the dangers of reporting in the Afghan capital, was "a devastating blow". Tolo News cameraman Yar Mohammad Tokhi and Afghanistan's 1TV reporter Ghazi Rasooli as well as cameraman Nowroz Ali Rajabi were among the victims. Four police officers were also killed, Tolo News reported. Forty-nine people were injured and taken to hospitals, the Interior Ministry said.

Afghanistan has seen a spate of attacks this year. Last week, six people, including two Afghan soldiers, were killed when a car bomb exploded in Afghanistan's Helmand province. On April 22, an Islamic State suicide bomber attacked a voter registration centre in Kabul, killing 60 people.

Top 10 developments of Kabul twin attack by ISIS

1) US Ambassador John Bass tweeted: "I condemn today's terrible Kabul attack (and) reaffirm our commitment (to) stand with the Afghan people in their fight for peace (and) security across Afghanistan. We mourn for those murdered, including the brave journalists who stand for truth in the face of violence."

2) First blast: The first blast happened at around at 8 a.m. local time in the Shashdarak area of the city, where the US embassy and Afghan government buildings are located, prompting journalists to rush to the scene.

3) 2nd blast: The second explosion came as the attacker, posing as a cameraman, detonated explosives as journalists huddled around the scene.

Kabul attack: A man cries at a hospital after he lost his Journalist son in explosions in Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: AP/PTI

2) AFP journalist killed in the blast:  Shah Marai died in a blast that was targeting a group of journalists who had rushed to the scene of a suicide attack in the Afghan capital. In a tweet, the Global News Director, Michele Leridon, honoured Marai for his "extraordinary strength, courage and generosity" and praised his "consummate professionalism" and "sensitivity" during his 15 years covering the Afghan conflict for AFP. He leaves behind six children, including a newborn daughter, AFP said. The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AFJSC) said eight journalists were killed in Kabul, the worst toll for media workers in a single attack in the country.

3) 11 children killed: A suicide bomber in a vehicle attacked foreign military forces in the southern province of Kandahar, killing 11 children studying in a nearby religious school, police said.

4) Attacker 'pretended to be reporter': In Kabul, Najib Danish, a spokesman for the interior ministry, said the suicide bomber who attacked journalists, appeared to have posed as a media worker and blew himself up where reporters and rescue workers had gathered.

“We know that a suicide bomber pretended to be a reporter. He showed his press card and stood among journalists before blowing himself up,” Danish told Reuters.

5) Spate of attacks in Afghanistan: On Saturday, at least six persons were killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan's Helmand province. At least six persons were killed, as a Taliban suicide bomber blew an explosive-laden car next to a military base in Afghanistan's Helmand province on Saturday. Two Afghan soldiers were amongst the killed and a woman was among the civilians killed.

Kabul attack: Victims in double explosions lie on the ground in Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: AP/PTI

6) Afghan Taliban announced fresh offensive on Wednesday: The Taliban launched their annual spring offensive, in an apparent rejection of calls for the militants to take up the Afghan government's offer of peace talks. Operation Al Khandaq -- named after a famous seventh century battle in Medina in which Muslim fighters defeated "infidel" invaders -- will target US forces and "their intelligence agents" as well as their "internal supporters", a Taliban statement said. The Taliban said the offensive was partly a response to US President Donald Trump's new strategy for Afghanistan announced last August, which gave US forces more leeway to go after insurgents.

7) Taliban attacks killed 11 troops, policemen on April 24: Taliban killed at least 11 Afghan soldiers and policemen in western Farah province. The Taliban there targeted the local police security post in the province's district of Jaghatu.

Kabul attack: A wounded man looks at the site of double explosions, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: AP/PTI

8) Kabul attack on April 22: Last week, the death toll in the suicide attack on a voter registration centre in Kabul increased to 69 and the number of injured to 120. 69 people died and 120 were injured in a suicide attack on a voter registration centre in Kabul on April 22. Among the dead were 27 women and two police officers, with the bodies of the latter initially being taken to police hospitals, delaying their inclusion in the overall tally. The voter registration centre is situated in a district with a large population of the Shia minority Hazara community, often targeted by the Islamic State (IS) terror group.

Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid had denied responsibility of the attack on Twitter.

The process of registering voters for October's elections began last week in Kabul and is set to continue in the coming weeks.