The riot broke out last night when a crowd threw stones and shot at police. A local police official, Abdul Rasoul, confirmed that the rioting centered around the police station in Charkh and that some in the crowd fired at the station. Rasoul said police fired in the air not at the crowd but he said police were investigating claims that two demonstrators were shot dead.

It was unclear what sparked the riot, but Rasoul said on Thursday two men were arrested after they attempted to ambush a police patrol in the same area. Rasoul said the leader of the ambush escaped and may have been responsible for starting last night's riot.