At least 80 people have died in two blasts at a protest march in Kabul’s Dehmazang Circle on Saturday, which was claimed by the Islamic State. Around 250 people are feared injured, though numbers are likely to increase.

Thousands of locals from Afghanistan's Hazara minority were reportedly protesting at the site over a power route line that was being planned. Protestors were demanding changes to the route of the multi-million dollar power transmission line. Thousands of people were protesting because the power line bypassed areas with large Hazara populations. The capital had reportedly been locked down the night before and major traffic intersections and roads were blocked to prevent the protestors from marching to the presidential palace.

Officials said two suicide bombs were detonated at the rally, but that the third bomb was defective. The third bomber was shot dead by local security forces, AFP reported. President Ashraf Ghani said he was "deeply saddened" by the carnage.