Did IS-K Claim Responsibility for the Deadly Restaurant Blast in Kabul?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Islamic State Khorasan claimed responsibility for the Kabul restaurant bombing.
- The attack resulted in seven fatalities and left 13 injured.
- Chinese nationals were specifically targeted due to political motives.
- The security situation in Afghanistan remains precarious.
- Authorities are urging vigilance among foreign nationals.
Kabul, Jan 20 (NationPress) Islamic State Khorasan has taken responsibility for a suicide bombing that occurred at a Chinese restaurant in Kabul, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals and leaving 13 others injured, as reported by local media on Tuesday.
The blast occurred at a Chinese restaurant located in Kabul's Shahr-e-Naw area on Monday around 3 PM (local time).
According to Taliban officials, the explosion claimed the lives of seven people, including one Chinese national, as stated by Afghanistan's prominent news agency, Khaama Press.
At least 13 individuals sustained injuries from the explosion. The restaurant is known to be frequented by foreigners, including Chinese citizens.
In a statement released by the IS-affiliated Amaq news agency, the group declared that a suicide bomber detonated explosives among Chinese nationals and their security personnel within the restaurant.
IS-K also asserted that the total casualties, including Taliban guards present at the scene, amounted to 25.
The group claimed that the attack specifically targeted Chinese nationals due to China's treatment of Uyghur Muslims.
Following the restaurant explosion, China's Embassy in Kabul commented on the fragile security situation in Afghanistan.
It urged Chinese citizens to temporarily avoid traveling to Afghanistan and to remain cautious if they are already in the country.
The embassy also advised Chinese businesses and residents in Afghanistan to adhere to local laws and enhance their personal security measures. They were cautioned to steer clear of crowded locations, religious sites, and eateries due to the heightened risk of militant attacks, according to Khaama Press.
Last December, three workers lost their lives when an unexploded device from prior conflicts detonated in Nangarhar province, as reported by provincial police spokesman Sayed Tayeb Hamad. The incident transpired at a scrap shop in the Kama district, where workers were present, resulting in three fatalities from the explosion. Police have urged the public to report any suspicious objects to security authorities.