Rockets disrupt Afghanistan president's holiday speech in suspected Taliban attack

The sound of the blast could be heard as the president delivered an Eid speech.

August 21, 2018, 11:28 AM

The sound of exploding rockets could be heard in the background Tuesday as Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani gave a speech at a ceremony in Kabul marking Eid al-Adha, an important Islamic holiday.

The blast could be heard in a live broadcast of the speech.

PHOTO: Smoke rises from the site of an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan Aug. 21, 2018.
Smoke rises from the site of an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan Aug. 21, 2018.
Mohammad Ismail/Reuters
PHOTO: Smoke rises from the site of an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan Aug. 21, 2018.
Smoke rises from the site of an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan Aug. 21, 2018.
Mohammad Ismail/Reuters

Police said the Taliban fired two rockets toward the presidential palace during the speech, according to The Associated Press. One rocket landed near the presidential building while a second landed near a NATO compound and the U.S. Embassy but no one was injured, police official Jan Agha said, according to the AP.

"If they are thinking the rocket attack will keep Afghans down, they are wrong," Ghani said in his speech of the attack.

PHOTO: A member of the Afghan security forces keeps watch at the site of an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 21, 2018.
A member of the Afghan security forces keeps watch at the site of an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 21, 2018.
Mohammad Ismail/Reuters

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, which happened two days after Ghani announced a conditional ceasefire with the Taliban.

Eid al-Adha is considered the most important of two Islamic holidays. It is celebrated for three days by Muslims worldwide.

Related Topics