User:Crtew/Terrorist attack on Tolo Television
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Terrorist attack on Tolo Television | |
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Location | Kabul, Afganistan |
Date | January 20, 2016 |
Target | Tolo News station journalists |
Attack type | Suicide Car Bombing |
Deaths | 7 |
Injured | 25 |
Perpetrators | Taliban |
The Terrorist attack on Tolo Television is suicide bombing committed by a member of the Taliban on a motorcycle[1] on a minibus owned by a company who works with Tolo Television.[2] killed seven journalists in Kabul, Afghanistan near the Russian Embassy[3] on January 20, 2016[2] for their often critical reporting of the Taliban's activities. A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying the bomber had specifically targeted Tolo TV employees.[4]
Perpetrators
[edit]The Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The perpetrator of the attack died in the attack by suicide bombing.[5] The attack was condemned by the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and negatively impacted the view of the Taliban in the region.
Victims
[edit]At least 25 people were wounded in the bombing, including women and children[2] most of those killed were behind-the-scenes staff from the channel's graphics and dubbing departments.[3] Those who died were, Mohammad Jawad Hussaini 28-year-old Tolo video editor for Moby Group– TOLO TV’s mother company – for seven years when killed,[6]
Mehri Azizi, who had worked in the creative department for five years and had risen to lead the graphics department, even though she was only 22.[7] Zainab Mirzaee, who was a dubbing artist, Mariam Ibrahimi, who was a dubbing artist only employed with Tolo news for six months, Mohammad Hussain, driver for six years, Mohammad Ali Mohammadi, a Dari dubbing artist and Hussain Amiri, a part of the set depatment.[8]
Description of incident
[edit]The Taliban were angered by a Tolo report alleging that the insurgents had raped female university students. In respondse the Taliban threatened Tolo TV in October 2015[9]
During rush hour on January 20, 2016 a Taliban insurgent driving a motorcycle loaded with explosives targeting a bus owned by ToloTV carrying employees home. The attack injured seven Tolo employee and injured twenty-five others. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack the next day. According to the statement signed by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, the terror organization was not attacking the media in general.[10] The attack was purposely targeting Tolo TV for their reporting of Taliban activities. Afghanistan's intelligence service said it has arrested eight people in connection with the Tolo attack, all associated with the Haqqani network, a close Taliban ally based in neighboring Pakistan.[9]
Context
[edit]The terrorist attack on Tolo Tv station comes just two days after a second round of four-country negotiations in Kabul aimed at reviving talks with the Taliban.[3]The Taliban had earlier warned Tolo and Kabul-based 1TV channel in October[5] in response to their reports claiming that the group's fighters had raped women at a female hostel in Kunduz[6] Tolo TV tried to address Taliban concerns, and met with the Taliban to discuss the issues in the United Arab Emirates.[11] Although, this was the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001.[3]Journalists have been attacked multiple times in Afghanistan since 2001. At least 34, including 15 foreign journalists, have been killed in connection with their work. Most of these murders are still unpunished.[12] Since the beginning of 2016, the city has been hit by at least six bomb attacks.[13]
Impact
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According to the US embassy in Kabul journalistic media is one of the successes in Afghanistan after the US invasion of Afghanistan. Human rights watch warns of increasing attacks on journalists from the Taliban in an effort to control the media.[4] Freedom of speech has been an achievement for Afghanistan since 2001. The Afghan President condemned the attacks, but many journalists have yet to return to work, fearing further attacks.[9]
Reactions
[edit]Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attacks on twitter, Strongly condemn the barbaric attack on our brave media staff, My condolences are with their families. This is the act of coward terrorists."[3]
"Murdering those who work to enlighten, educate and entertain will not stop Afghans from exercising their universal human right to freedom of expression," the US embassy said.[1]
"The targeting of journalists reflects a depraved strategy to make media freedom a casualty of the ongoing conflict," Human Rights Watch said in a statement. "Designating journalists and other civilians as 'military targets' does not make them so, and deliberately attacking them constitutes a war crime."[6]
The day after the attack the Afghan Taliban issued a warning to the country’s media not to oppose jihad and Islam[5]
Moby Group repsonded to the attack by interrupting their programming on Wednesday evening after the attack to broadcast verses of the Quran. During which Moby Group displayed a ticker at the bottom of the screen announcing the death of the TOLO employees.[4]
"The enemy of humanity, peace and Islam martyred our colleagues because they were exposing their crimes," said Fawad Aman, a TOLO news presenter, "They martyred you to silence us, but they will never achieve this evil goal."[3]
“If they do not stop their evil activities this will not be the last attack on them,” said a Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, in an emailed statement.[2]
See also
[edit]- List of terrorist incidents, July–December 2015 (Add other relevant Wikipedia articles)
- Abdul Jabar Sabet
References
[edit]- ^ a b Greg Botelho, CNN (20 January 2016). "Suicide bomber targets bus, kills 7 in heart of Kabul". CNN.
{{cite web}}
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has generic name (help) - ^ a b c d "Suicide Bomb In Afghan Capital Targets Journalists, Kills Seven People". The Huffington Post. 20 January 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f "Taliban car bomber kills seven Afghan TV channel employees". Yahoo News. 20 January 2016.
- ^ a b c "Taliban Suicide Bomber Strikes Packed Bus in Kabul". The New York Times. 21 January 2016.
- ^ a b c "Afghan Taliban issue warning to media day after suicide attack". hindustantimes.
- ^ a b c "Tears, defiance after Taliban attack on Afghan TV workers". Mail Online. 21 January 2016.
- ^ "Vibrant Lives of Afghan TV Crew, Erased in a Taliban Bombing". The New York Times. 22 January 2016.
- ^ "TOLO TV Staff Remembered On 2nd Anniversary Of Attack". tolonews. 20 January 2018.
- ^ a b c "Afghan Taliban open new front in war with attacks on media". Fox News.
- ^ Fazul Rahim. "Taliban Claims Responsibility for Targeting Tolo TV Workers". NBC News.
- ^ "Tolo TV attack rebrands Taliban as terrorists". The Express Tribune. 23 January 2016.
- ^ "After Tolo TV car bomb, entire media organizations under threat of attack - Reporters Without Borders".
- ^ "Kabul blast: Suicide bomber kills seven TV staff". BBC News.
External links
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