At least 22 people have been killed and 32 others wounded in northeastern Afghanistan in a bombing attack against a campaign rally. The rally was for female MP candidate Nazifa Yousufi Bek in the Takhar Province.
There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack, which saw a motorbike packed with explosives parked near the site of the rally, and detonated apparently remotely. Officials say the victims included civilian attendees as well as some security forces. The candidate was not present at the time.
This is the latest in a series of attacks in the lead up to the parliamentary election next week, with both the Taliban and ISIS urging boycotts and several attacks killing potential candidates as well as threats of attacks against polling places.
Attacks and threats of attacks are raising the possibility that turnout will be low for the upcoming vote, with many unwilling to risk going out to vote when there is a risk of being killed in the process