Jump to content

17 August 2019 Kabul bombing

Coordinates: 34°30′03″N 69°08′43″E / 34.5007°N 69.1452°E / 34.5007; 69.1452
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Abductive (talk | contribs) at 01:20, 19 August 2019 (d.dddd). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

17 August 2019 Kabul bombing
Part of War in Afghanistan (2001–present) and Anti-Shi'ism
Bombing site is located in Afghanistan
Bombing site
Bombing site
Bombing site (Afghanistan)
Bombing site is located in Kabul
Bombing site
Bombing site
Bombing site (Kabul)
LocationKabul, Afghanistan
Coordinates34°30′03″N 69°08′43″E / 34.5007°N 69.1452°E / 34.5007; 69.1452
Date17 August 2019 (2019-08-17)
22:40 (AFT; UTC+04:30)
TargetShia Hazara civilians
Attack type
Suicide bombing
Deaths63
Injured182
PerpetratorsIslamic State
 

A suicide bombing took place in Kabul, Afghanistan on 17 August 2019, with a bomber detonating a suicide vest during a wedding in a wedding hall in the western part of the city. At least 63 people were killed in the attack, and 182 injured.[1][2] The local affiliate of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed responsibility for the bombing, stating that the attack targeted the Shiites.[3] More than 1,000 people were gathered for the wedding when the attack occurred.[3]

Attack

The suicide bombing occurred at about 10:40 p.m. Afghanistan Time (UTC+04:30) in western Kabul, in an area heavily populated by the Shia Hazara minority, inside the "Dubai City" wedding hall.[4][5] The suicide bomber detonated the explosives in the men's section[6] of the wedding hall, near the stage where musicians were playing,[7] at a time when hundreds were inside the building for a wedding ceremony.[8] The bomber detonated a suicide vest packed with ball-bearings.[2] The explosion occurred shortly before the wedding ceremony was supposed to start.[7] According to the wedding hall's owner, more than 1,200 people had been invited to the event, with a mixed group of Shiites and Sunnis attending.[9] Most of the attendees were ethnic Hazaras.[3] Both the bride and the groom were Shiite,[3] and both from modest working class families, with the groom working as a tailor.[2] Their families had discussed how to schedule the timing of the wedding to try to minimize the risk of an attack.[2]

At least 63 people were killed and 182 injured. While the bride and groom survived, both lost several family members. Numerous children were among the casualties.[10]

Responsibility

The day after the attack, a local affiliate of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed responsibility for it, naming the bomber as Abu Asim Al-Pakistani and claiming that he targeted a gathering of "non-believers".[11][9][12] The statement of responsibility claimed that after the suicide bombing inside the wedding hall, a car bomb was also detonated outside as emergency vehicles were arriving.[12][13] The follow-up car bombing has not been confirmed by the authorities.[14]

Previously, the Taliban denied responsibility for the attack, with a spokesman stating that the Taliban "condemns [the bombing] in the strongest terms".[15][10]

Reactions

Domestic

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani condemned the "inhumane" and "barbaric" attack and expressed his condolences towards the victims and the families of the dead victims,[16] and declared a day of mourning.[14] He also stated that the Taliban can not fully escape blame for the attack either, saying that “The Taliban cannot absolve themselves of blame for they provide platform for terrorists."[17][18]

The Taliban denied responsibility for the attack and condemned it. The group's spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement that the group "strongly condemns explosion targeting civilians inside a hotel in Kabul city," while also adding that "Such barbaric deliberate attacks against civilians including women & children are forbidden & unjustifiable."[15]

International

  •  United Nations – The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released a statement condemning the attack, stating that "The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemns last night’s Kabul attack that initial reports indicate killed scores of civilians and injured many more, among them women and children."[19]
  •  United States – The United States condemned the attack in a tweet posted by the United States Ambassador to Afghanistan John R. Bass, saying "Yesterday’s wedding hall bombing in Kabul was an act of extreme depravity. Our heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families. No one should be subject to such an attack, least of all innocent children."[20]
  •  Saudi Arabia – The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on Twitter, saying that they "condemn and denounce the suicide bombing at a wedding in the Afghan capital of Kabul" and "renew the [Saudi Arabia's] firm position against targeting and terrorizing innocent people".[21]

References

  1. ^ "Afghan wedding suicide blast kills 63, amid hopes for talks". Reuters. 2019-08-17. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  2. ^ a b c d "One Minute It Was an Afghan Wedding. The Next, a Funeral for 63". New York Times. 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  3. ^ a b c d "Islamic State claims suicide attack on Kabul wedding that killed 63". Washington Post. 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  4. ^ "Deadly blast rips through wedding in Afghanistan, killing 63 people". CNN. 2019-08-17. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  5. ^ "Kabul blast in "Dubai City" wedding hall: 63 killed, 182 wounded". Gulf News. 2019-08-17. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  6. ^ "Fears of many deaths after bomb explodes at Kabul wedding". Radio New Zealand. 2019-08-17. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  7. ^ a b "'The suffering will continue': Groom mourns 63 killed at Afghan wedding amid U.S. withdrawal talks". NBC News. 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  8. ^ "POSSIBLY HUNDREDS CAUGHT IN BLAST INSIDE WEDDING HALL IN KABUL". Newsweek. 2019-08-17. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  9. ^ a b "Islamic State claims bombing at Kabul wedding that killed 63". AP News. 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  10. ^ a b Constable, Pamela; Hassan, Sharif (2019-08-18). "Islamic State claims suicide attack on Kabul wedding that killed 63". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  11. ^ "ISIS releases identity of Kabul wedding hall bomber as Abu Asim Al-Pakistani". Khaama Pressaccess-date=2019-08-18. 2019-08-18.
  12. ^ a b "The Latest: Families bury their dead after wedding attack". Miami Herald. 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  13. ^ "Kabul wedding blast: Groom has 'lost hope' after deadly attack". BBC News. 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  14. ^ a b "Islamic State claims responsibility for bombing at Kabul wedding that killed 63". CBS News. 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  15. ^ a b "Taliban reacts to deadly Kabul wedding hall bombing which killed at least 63". Khaama Press. 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  16. ^ "Ashraf Ghani condemns 'inhumane' Kabul wedding hall blast". Catch News. 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  17. ^ "Afghan president says Taliban can't escape blame for deadly bombing". Reuters. 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  18. ^ Ghani, Ashraf [@ashrafghani] (August 18, 2019). "Taliban cannot absolve themselves of blame, for they provide platform for terrorists. Today is the day of mourning, hence #StateBuilder have cancelled today's gathering at the Loya Jirga tent" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ "UN CONDEMNS ATTACK DELIBERATELY TARGETING CIVILIANS AT KABUL WEDDING". unama.unmissions.org. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  20. ^ Bass, John R. [@USAmbKabul] (August 18, 2019). "Yesterday's wedding hall bombing in #Kabul was an act of extreme depravity. Our heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families. No one should be subject to such an attack, least of all innocent children" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 [@KSAmofaEN] (August 18, 2019). "#Statement | We condemn and denounce the suicide bombing at a wedding in the Afghan capital of #Kabul" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=17_August_2019_Kabul_bombing&oldid=911466263"