Chinese Officials Targeted? Massive Explosion Near Kabul Restaurant; Multiple Casualties Reported

Kabul: A powerful explosion shook up central Kabul on Monday, causing multiple casualties.

Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said the blast hit a hotel on Gulfaroshi Street in the Shahr-e-Naw area of the city’s fourth district.

“We do have casualties, both wounded and killed,” Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani added.

Authorities said the cause of the explosion is under investigation. Some reports suggested there was an IED blast, but there was also a version that the explosion was result of a gas cylinder blast.

Afghan Times quoted sources as saying that the blast took place near a Chinese restaurant, reportedly targeting a vehicle carrying Chinese officials, and was allegedly carried out by a rival faction within the Taliban.

Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that two Chinese citizens were seriously wounded, and an Afghan security guard was killed. The restaurant suffered severe damage.

An AFP journalist saw firefighters clearing debris and an ambulance attending to the injured, as police cordoned off the area.

Shahr-e-Naw is a busy area, which has multiple restaurants, flower sellers and a hospital.

Local TV station Tolo News showed smoke and dust rising from the street, with people fleeing the scene.