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At Least Two Killed In Blast Near Election Office In Eastern Afghanistan

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FILE: An Afghan policeman inspects the site of an attack in Jalalabad on July 31.
FILE: An Afghan policeman inspects the site of an attack in Jalalabad on July 31.

At least two people have been killed and four wounded in an explosion near the office of Afghanistan’s election commission in the eastern city of Jalalabad, where dozens of protesters had gathered, officials said.

The AFP news agency reported that the Islamic State militant group had claimed responsibility for the August 25 attack.

The protesters had gathered in support of a parliamentary candidate who electoral officials had disqualified over his suspected links with militant groups.

Attahullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar Province, said the wounded were brought to a hospital, with one in critical condition. He said the number of casualties was likely to rise.

Jalalabad has been the scene of multiple attacks in recent months that have killed dozens, as the Western-backed government in Kabul continues to struggle to fend off the Taliban and other militant groups since the withdrawal of most NATO troops from Afghanistan in 2014.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and TOLOnews

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