IS suicide bombing in Afghan capital, at least 29 people killed
Today's bombing occurred near a shrine in Kabul as people were celebrating the new year festival of Nawroz.
 |
| Police at the scene of the bombing. Photo: Reuters |
Initial reports said the suicide bombing killed at least 29 people and injured 52. The death toll could rise,BBCThe bomber is believed to have targeted a crowd of hundreds gathered to celebrate Nowruz, the new year festival in the ancient Persian calendar. Many of the victims in the crowd were Shiite Muslims.
The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for the tragedy. An interior ministry spokesman said the attacker walked to the Sakhi shrine and detonated his explosives when police spotted him. The explosion took place outside Ali Abad hospital, near Kabul University, in the west of the city.
The Sakhi shrine has been targeted before. At least 14 people were killed in an attack on the shrine in October 2016, as Shiite Muslims were preparing to pray during the Ashura festival. In 2011, another bombing at the Sakhi shrine killed 59 people.
