On Monday, January 19, a Chinese citizen and six Afghan nationals were killed in an explosion at a Chinese restaurant in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Several others were injured, including a child.
According to Reuters, the spokesperson for the police, Khalid Zadran, stated that the restaurant was located in the commercial area of Shahr-e-Naw in Kabul. This area is filled with office buildings, shopping centers, embassies, and is heavily guarded. Shahr-e-Naw is considered one of the safest areas in Kabul.
Zadran mentioned that the Chinese noodle restaurant was co-operated by a Chinese Muslim named Abdul Majid, his wife, and an Afghan partner named Abdul Jabbar Mahmood. They mainly served the local Chinese Muslim community.
The explosion occurred near the kitchen, resulting in the deaths of one Chinese citizen named Ayub and six Afghan nationals. Many others were also injured in the blast.
Videos circulating on social media show debris scattered on the street outside the restaurant, with thick smoke billowing out of a large hole in the front of the restaurant caused by the explosion.
Dejan Panic, the country director for the humanitarian organization EMERGENCY in Afghanistan, stated in a release that “so far, our hospital has received 20 injured individuals.”
The statement mentioned, “Among the injured are four women and one child… Unfortunately, seven people had already passed away by the time they arrived at the hospital.” The cause of the explosion remains unclear, with authorities stating that an investigation is ongoing.
The Taliban took control of war-torn Afghanistan in 2021, claiming to restore peace and security. However, bomb attacks continue, with many of these incidents being claimed by the Afghan branch of the extremist group Islamic State.