At least seven people were killed and several others injured after a powerful blast ripped through a Restaurant located in or next to a hotel in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul on Monday, officials said.
The explosion occurred in the Shahr E Naw area, one of the city’s busiest commercial districts, which is considered relatively secure and houses shops, offices and restaurants frequented by locals and foreigners. The blast caused significant damage to the building, shattered windows nearby, and triggered panic among residents and passersby.
According to Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry, the victims include six Afghan nationals and one Chinese citizen. Around a dozen people were injured, some of them seriously. An international medical charity operating in Kabul said it received nearly 20 wounded victims, several requiring emergency surgery.
Initial reports described the incident as a hotel blast, but authorities later clarified that the explosion took place at a restaurant operating inside or adjacent to the hotel, reportedly popular among foreign visitors.
Security forces quickly cordoned off the area, and an investigation was launched to determine the cause of the explosion. Officials have not yet confirmed whether it was the result of a bomb, gas leak or another form of attack. No group has claimed responsibility so far.
The blast has renewed concerns about security in Kabul, where such attacks have continued sporadically even after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021. In the past, militant groups, including the Islamic State’s regional affiliate, have carried out attacks targeting civilians, foreigners, and public places.
Authorities said further details would be shared once the investigation progresses.
