Over 60 Killed in Suicide Bombing at Major Kabul Religious Gathering

Taliban condemns attack, no claims of responsibility

Jason Ditz 

Posted onNovember 20, 2018CategoriesNewsTagsAfghanistan

A major suicide bombing targeted a religious gathering in Kabul on Tuesday. The gathering was celebrating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. The government confirmed 50 dead, though the NGO running the hospital nearby said over 60 were killed, and 70 more wounded.

Religious scholars and clerics were gathered by the hundreds at Uranus Wedding Hall for the event, and were reciting passages from the Quran when the bomber arrived and detonated explosives in the crowd of people.

The attack caused chaos and overwhelmed emergency services. Some 30 ambulances had to be sent to collect the critically wounded. The Afghan government has announced a day of mourning on Wednesday over the deaths.

It is unclear who was behind the attack, and there have been no claims of credit. The Taliban issued a statement condemning the attack on a religious target. ISIS would be a possible culprit, but they have yet to offer any statement on the matter.

https://news.antiwar.com/2018/11/20/over-60-killed-in-suicide-bombing-at-major-kabul-religious-gathering/