Photographing carnage in Kabul

Photographing carnage in Kabul

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I was on the way to work with colleagues, Mohammad Ismail, a photographer, and TV cameraman Mohammad Aziz when the car started shaking on the road.

At first we thought it was an earthquake but we quickly realised it was a very big explosion. We were a couple of kilometres away and we could see a tower of smoke rising into the sky and drove straight to the scene.

. Kabul, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Omar Sobhani

I got out and my two colleagues went to the hospital because we could already see people with blood-stained faces and clothes running past us.

Normally when we get to the scene and need fast pictures, we’ll shoot something quickly on our smartphones and send them off at once. But this time, we decided to use our full cameras straight away.

. Kabul, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Omar Sobhani

There was a lot of smoke and fire, and around 10 wrecked vehicles on the road. First, I had to make sure there wasn’t going to be any kind of follow-up attack, which is something that has often happened in the past. Once it looked clear I went towards the blast site.

I couldn’t see very much because of the smoke but I could hear a number of wounded people calling out and one man was talking on a mobile phone, telling friends where to find him.

As I went forward, I came across a person lying on the ground. I shot four or five shots quickly and he started asking for help.

I went to try to help him but security forces were arriving at the same time and pushed me back. I watched him being put into an ambulance and carried off.

. Kabul, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Omar Sobhani

However much you see, these things still affect you strongly. I think about all these young people, women with blood on their faces and that night was very, very sad.

I talked to my wife about it, all those people are members of a family as well. It’s very, very sad for me and for anyone who’s human.

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Slideshow

. Kabul, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Mohammad Ismail
. Kabul, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Mohammad Ismail
. Kabul, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Mohammad Ismail
. Kabul, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Mohammad Ismail
. Kabul, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Mohammad Ismail