Explosion in Hotel Restaurant Kills 7 in Kabul
Explosion in Hotel Restaurant Kills 7 in Kabul
A deadly explosion has hit a hotel restaurant in the Shahr-e-Naw district of Kabul, Afghanistan.
The area is known as one of the capital’s most secure neighborhoods and is frequently visited by foreigners. According to Taliban officials and medical reports, at least seven people were killed, including one Chinese national and six Afghans.
The blast specifically targeted a Chinese-run restaurant located within the hotel. The establishment was reportedly popular among the Chinese Muslim community and was managed by a Chinese Muslim couple alongside an Afghan business partner.
Images from the scene showed significant damage to the building, with smoke rising from a large breach in the facade and debris scattered across the street.
The Italian NGO Emergency, which operates a surgical center in Kabul, confirmed that they received 20 casualties following the explosion.
Of those brought to the facility, seven were pronounced dead on arrival. The organization noted that the casualty figures were provisional and mentioned that women and at least one child were among the 20 people injured in the attack.
Taliban Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani stated that the explosion occurred near the restaurant’s kitchen, though the exact cause whether a bomb or an accident was not immediately clarified.
While overall violence has decreased since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, the country continues to face sporadic attacks from affiliate groups such as ISIL (ISIS).
As of the latest reports, no group has officially claimed responsibility for the incident. Taliban authorities have launched an investigation into the cause and circumstances of the blast.
The attack highlights ongoing security challenges in the capital, even within neighborhoods previously considered to be the most protected in the city.
