Five Afghan cricket players killed by suspected Taliban gunman
Authorities say the gunman rode on a motorbike and shot the group of men
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A gunman shot and killed five cricket players in Laghman province, Afghanistan, on Thursday.
The Afghan authorities have said that the man on a motorcycle opened fire at the group of local cricketers in Alinghar distrcit while they were playing a game.
A provincial spokesman, Sarhadii Zhouak, said the attacker then fled the scene.
No one has yet come forward to claim responsibility for the killings.
Zhouak speculated that the Taliban may be behind the incident, as when the group ruled the country they imposed severe restrictions on sports and public celebrations.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has released a statement to condemn the shooting.
The attack came after it was confirmed that police found the body of the dead journalist Noor Ahmad Noori, who worked for the local Radio Busd, in the southern province of Helmand on Thursday.
Government spokesman Omar Zwak confirmed the news, and said that 30-year-old Nouri had been abducted earlier that day.
Concerns were raised in late January around the stability of the country, after a Taliban suicide attack at a popular restaurant in Kabul killed 21 people.
Former US Commander General Stanley McChrystal warned that Afghanistan is in danger of slipping into civil war if it does not continue to receive support from NATO forces, when the majority of international troops are withdrawn this year.
Additional reporting by PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments