KABUL: At least seven people were killed, and 20 others sustained injuries when an explosion ripped through a minibus in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood of Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, local authorities said. The blast occurred in the western part of the city, marking the second such incident in the area within a fortnight.
Police spokesman Khalid Zadran disclosed that the explosion happened on a civilian passenger bus, causing devastation and killing seven people while injuring 20 others. Security personnel immediately arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area. The security forces initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the explosion.
Attacks in Dasht-e-Barchi Neighborhood of Kabul
The Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood has been a target for extremist attacks in the past. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the latest incident, but the area has been previously targeted by an affiliate of the Islamic State group, known for attacking schools, hospitals, and mosques.
In late October, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for an attack in Dasht-e-Barchi, where a booby-trapped suitcase inside a gathering place resulted in the deaths of at least four people and critical injuries to seven others.
Since the Taliban took power in August 2021, the frequency of bomb blasts and suicide attacks has significantly decreased. However, occasional incidents such as this serve as a grim reminder of the ongoing security challenges faced by Afghanistan.
