At least seven people have been killed and several more injured after a powerful explosion tore through a restaurant. It lies at Shahr-e-Naw, the heart of Kabul. The incident took place on a Monday afternoon, as confirmed by the officials. They said it was one of the most serious security incidents in the city’s relatively calm recent years.
The blast occurred in the Shahr-e-Naw district, a commercial and diplomatic area long regarded as one of the capital’s most secure zones. The explosion struck a Chinese-run noodle restaurant located inside or adjacent to a hotel on Gulfaroshi Street, according to Afghan police and community sources.
Taliban Interior Ministry officials confirmed casualties but have not yet detailed the final toll. Spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani told Reuters that the attack killed and injured several people, and that authorities would release further information as the investigation continues.
Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran reported that seven people died in the blast, including one Chinese national identified as Ayub and six Afghan citizens. Several others, including women and children, were wounded and taken to local medical facilities.
The Italian medical charity EMERGENCY, which operates a surgical centre near the blast site, said it had received 20 patients, seven of whom were already dead on arrival. Among the injured were four women and at least one child, the organisation’s country director, Dejan Panic, said.
What Happened
The explosion struck near the kitchen area of the restaurant, according to police. Local videos and imagery from the scene showed thick smoke billowing and debris scattered on the street outside the eatery as people fled in panic.
Initial reports from Afghan officials and media outlets alternately described the site as a hotel or restaurant, reflecting the mixed commercial nature of the location. However, multiple independent sources confirmed that the blast primarily hit the Chinese-run restaurant. The restaurant was part of or adjacent to a hotel building in the area.
About The Restaurant in Kabul
The Chinese noodle restaurant was jointly owned and operated by a Chinese Muslim man, his wife, and an Afghan partner, Abdul Jabbar Mahmood. It served a mix of local and international customers, including Chinese Muslim visitors and residents. The establishment was well-known among residents for its cuisine and its location, situated among other businesses and embassies.
Restaurants in this part of Kabul often cater to diplomats, aid workers, and foreign nationals, making the area a hub of daily social activity. The presence of international visitors and businesses has historically seen as a sign of relative stability in Shahr-e-Naw.
Response and Ongoing Investigation
Taliban security forces quickly cordoned off the scene and began an investigation into the cause of the explosion. No group has yet claimed responsibility. Authorities have not confirmed whether the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), which is a bomb inside the restaurant, or another mechanism.
Chinese state media reported that the incident seriously injured two Chinese nationals and killed at least one security guard. These details have yet to be independently verified by Afghan officials.
Security in Kabul
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, large-scale bombings in Kabul have become less frequent. Meanwhile, sporadic attacks and blasts still occur. Afghanistan has continued to face threats from militant groups, including the local affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIL/ISIS-K). It has carried out deadly strikes in the past.
Investigations into the cause of Monday’s blast are ongoing, and local authorities have appealed for calm as they collect evidence and question witnesses.
Stay tuned to The World Times for more news related to this!
