KABUL, Afghanistan: An explosion in central Kabul on Monday killed at least seven people, said Italian NGO EMERGENCY, which runs a hospital in the Afghan capital.
“Twenty people have been received at EMERGENCY’s Surgical Centre in Kabul following an explosion this afternoon in the Shahr-e-Naw area, near the hospital. Among those received were seven people dead on arrival,” the NGO said in a statement.
Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said the blast occurred at a Chinese restaurant in central Kabul, killing a Chinese man and six Afghans.
“A Chinese Muslim, Ayub, and six Afghans were killed, and several others were wounded. The blast occurred near the kitchen,” the police spokesman said.
Earlier, the Taliban’s interior ministry said that several people were killed and injured in the Kabul blast.
The explosion occurred in the Shahr-e-Naw district, an area that hosts foreign missions, international organisations and residential compounds, and is generally considered among the safest parts of the capital.
“According to preliminary reports, a number of people were killed and injured,” Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani told the Reuters news agency.
Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zahran confirmed the explosion in a statement through the US social media company X, with no details on its nature.
Meanwhile, the Kabul-based TOLO News reported that several civilians died as a result of an explosion that occurred in the Shahr-e-Naw area of Kabul.
Chinese nationals were the apparent target of an explosion in Kabul, Amu TV reported, citing three sources.
Taliban police spokesman Khalid Zadran confirmed that an explosion occurred at a hotel in the Gulforoshi street of Kabul’s Shahr-e-Naw area, saying the blast caused casualties.
He said investigation teams were examining the nature of the explosion and that further details would be shared once the inquiry is completed.
The attack has raised concerns about the growing threat to civilians and foreigners despite existing security measures.
Emergency responders reached the site quickly, and injured victims were transported to nearby hospitals.
The nature of the explosion is not yet clear, and security officials have not officially commented on the incident so far, TOLOnews reported.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, and the Taliban authorities did not provide details on the nature of the explosion.
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021 and said it would restore security, but attacks have continued, mostly claimed by the local terrorist groups.
