A powerful bomb explosion at a restaurant in Kabul has left seven people dead, including one Chinese national, according to Afghan authorities. The remaining victims were Afghan citizens. The attack took place on Monday night (19 January), and ISIL has claimed responsibility.
The restaurant was jointly owned by a Chinese Muslim citizen. The area is considered one of Kabul’s most secure zones, but the blast has renewed concerns about the city’s overall security situation.
ISIL Says Attack Was Carried Out by Suicide Bomber
The explosion occurred near the restaurant’s kitchen. In a statement, ISIL said one of its suicide bombers carried out the attack. The Chinese victim has been identified as Ayub.
ISIL‑linked Amaq News Agency claimed the group is targeting Chinese nationals as retaliation for alleged abuses against Uyghur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang region.
Background on Xinjiang
Xinjiang is home to around ten million Uyghur Muslims. Human rights organisations have long accused the Chinese government of widespread repression in the region. Beijing denies the allegations, calling them false propaganda spread by Western countries.
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