Kabul blast at Chinese noodle restaurant kills at least seven, dozens injured
Kabul blast at Chinese noodle restaurant kills at least seven, dozens injured
A blast ripped through a Chinese noodle restaurant in central Kabul, killing at least seven people and wounding more than a dozen, as authorities investigate the cause.
A blast struck the Chinese Noodle restaurant in Kabul's Shahr-e-Naw district on Monday afternoon, killing at least seven people and wounding more than a dozen, emergency services said. An AFP journalist at the scene saw police units and an ambulance near the busy street, known for flower sellers and crowded eateries, as residents scrambled for safety and officials began cordon operations.
Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said the explosion occurred near the kitchen and that the casualties included seven Chinese Muslims and several Afghans, with the exact cause still under investigation. The area, once considered among Kabul's more secure hubs, was quickly reopened to traffic hours later, though shattered windows and a carpet of debris remained visible.
Nearby EMERGENCY hospital said seven people were dead on arrival and 13 others were admitted to the surgical department, including four women and a child, according to Dejan Panic, the NGO's country director. A flower shop owner, who asked not to be named, recalled the loud blast and described how security personnel evacuated the injured as the street filled with sirens.
Taliban officials pledged to restore security and to welcome foreign investment as international aid dwindles. The attack underscores Afghanistan's fragile security landscape as authorities face the challenge of protecting civilians in central Kabul, where markets and eateries draw locals and visitors despite the risks.
Investigations into the blast are ongoing and no group has claimed responsibility. The government urged calm and promised transparent updates as investigators sift through evidence from the scene.
