KABUL: A bomb attack in a crowded market in Afghanistan’s capital city Kabul claimed the life of a child and injured 11 others, police said on Thursday.
The explosion occurred on Wednesday afternoon in the Pamir Cinema area, although Taliban officials only confirmed the incident the following day. Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran stated, “Yesterday, there was an explosion from explosives a person was carrying in a bag. Due to this explosion, a child was killed and some civilians were lightly wounded.” He later clarified that 11 individuals were hurt in the blast.
A suspect, who sustained injuries in the attack, has been apprehended.
The Italian organization Emergency NGO, which runs a hospital in Kabul, reported treating 11 wounded victims, including two young children and two women. Deputy country director Stefano Gennaro Smirnov said, “The explosion occurred at a second-hand clothes market just as it opened, drawing a crowd of people.” He emphasized the area’s dense population and high poverty levels, stating that many affected by the attack were likely living in severe conditions.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. While the number of bomb blasts and suicide attacks in Afghanistan has decreased since the Taliban took power in August 2021, various armed groups, including the regional affiliate of the Islamic State, continue to pose a significant threat.
