18 Killed in Suicide Attack in Afghanistan... IS Claims Responsibility

The site near the Kabul education center in Afghanistan where a suicide bombing occurred on the 24th. [AFP=Yonhap News Agency][Image source = Yonhap News Agency]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] A suicide bombing occurred on the 24th (local time) at an education center in the western part of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, killing at least 18 people.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Tariq Arian stated that the suicide bomber attempted to enter the Kasar-e Danish Education Center but detonated the bomb on the street outside the building after being spotted by security guards.

Witnesses reported that bags and books belonging to victims trying to enter the building were scattered at the scene, and injured people were continuously being transported to hospitals.

Local authorities said most of the deceased were students aged between 15 and 26, and the number of injured reached 57. As the area is being cleared, the death toll is expected to rise.

The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on the Telegram messenger on the same day. However, no evidence supporting this claim has been presented so far.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Taliban, an armed rebel group, denied involvement in the attack.

The Taliban has been holding peace talks with the Afghan government in Doha, Qatar, since last month, but official negotiations have not started due to disagreements on the agenda and other issues.

The location of the attack is home to many Shia residents, and IS, a Sunni Islamic group, refers to Shias as apostates and has carried out several terrorist attacks targeting Shia communities.

In 2018, a terrorist attack targeting an education center also occurred in this area, resulting in the deaths of dozens of students.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.