In a devastating incident that shook the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Tuesday, a bus explosion in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood has claimed the lives of seven individuals and left 20 others severely injured, according to the city's police authorities.
The bus, carrying civilian passengers, was torn apart by the powerful explosion, sending shockwaves through the historically oppressed Shiite Hazara community enclave of Dasht-e-Barchi.
Kabul's police spokesman, Khalid Zadran, conveyed this grim news through a social media post, expressing his condolences for the victims and their families.
"An explosion occurred in a bus carrying civilian passengers in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul, unfortunately seven of our compatriots were martyred, and 20 others were injured," Zadran stated in his somber message.
Local security personnel swiftly arrived at the scene, initiating an extensive investigation to determine the cause of the explosion and to ensure the safety of the affected residents.
It is worth noting that this tragic incident occurred in the same neighborhood where, in late October, a sports club was targeted by an explosion that was claimed by the Islamic State group. In that previous attack, the Taliban authorities reported four fatalities and seven individuals wounded.
While the number of bomb blasts and suicide attacks has significantly decreased since the Taliban came to power in August 2021, officially ending their insurgency and displacing the U.S.-backed government, the threat of violence still looms over the region. Various armed groups, including the regional chapter of the Islamic State, continue to pose a serious security challenge in Afghanistan.
