Hospital officials have confirmed five protesters were killed in demonstrations in Kabul on Friday - a revision against an earlier count of seven.
Kabul Emergency Hospital has confirmed that five, not seven, people were killed. This happened after security forces opened fire on the demonstrators.
According to officials, among the dead, two were shot in the head and two in the chest.
The number of wounded is not yet clear but hospital officials also said that most of the wounded had been shot in the legs and feet.
Amid heavy firing by security forces earlier Friday afternoon, TOLOnews journalist Samim Faramarz said on the phone to TOLOnews.com that police were firing above people’s heads while security personnel where also firing a mounted machine gun from a Humvee.
Protesters had by early afternoon been pushed back to 15th Street in Wazir Akbar Khan, which is just a few hundred meters from the scene of Wednesday’s deadly truck bombing.
Angry protesters not only stoned fire trucks and security force vehicles earlier in the day but had been chanting “Down With (President Ashraf) Ghani”, “Down With the CEO (Abdullah Abdullah)” and “Down With The U.S”.
Fire trucks used water cannons on the crowd, while security forces threw tear gas canisters but this appeared to have angered demonstrators further.
An earlier shooting killed Mohammad Salem, the son of the first deputy speaker of the Meshrano Jirga (Upper House of Parliament).
This mass rally was in protest against government for failing to prevent attacks in Kabul city following Wednesday's deadly truck bombing in Wazir Akbar Khan area, which is not only in the heart of the city but is also the diplomatic zone.