17 August 2019 Kabul bombing
17 August 2019 Kabul bombing | |
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Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) | |
![]() ![]() Bombing site Bombing site (Afghanistan) | |
Location | Kabul, Afghanistan |
Coordinates | 34°30′03″N 69°08′43″E / 34.5007°N 69.1452°ECoordinates: 34°30′03″N 69°08′43″E / 34.5007°N 69.1452°E |
Date | 17 August 2019 10:40 p.m. (AFT; UTC+04:30) |
Target | Shia Hazara civilians |
Attack type | Suicide bombing |
Weapons | Explosive belt |
Deaths | 92 |
Injured | 142 |
Perpetrators | Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province |
Motive | Anti-Shi'ism |
On August 17, 2019, a suicide bombing took place during a wedding in a wedding hall in Kabul, Afghanistan. At least 92 people were killed in the attack and over 140 injured.[1][2][3][4][5] The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed responsibility for the bombing, stating that the attack targeted the Shi'ites.[6] More than 1,000 people were gathered for the wedding when the attack took place.[7][6] The attack occurred a day before the 100th Afghan Independence Day, causing the government to postpone the planned celebrations taking place at the Darul Aman Palace.[8] It was the deadliest attack in Kabul since January 2018.[9]
Attack[]
The suicide bombing occurred at approximately 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.[10][11] The suicide bomber detonated the explosives in the men's section[12] of the wedding hall, near the stage where musicians were playing,[13] at a time when hundreds were inside the building for a wedding ceremony.[14] The bomber detonated a suicide vest packed with ball bearings.[15]
The explosion occurred shortly before the wedding ceremony was supposed to start.[13] According to the wedding hall's owner, more than 1,200 people had been invited to the event, with a mixed group of Shi'ites and Sunnis attending.[16] Most of the attendees were ethnic Hazaras.[6] Both the bride and the groom were Shi'ite,[6] and both from modest working class families, with the groom working as a tailor.[15] Their families had discussed how to schedule the timing of the wedding to try to minimize the risk of an attack.[15]
At least 63 people were initially killed and 182 injured. While the bride and groom survived, both lost several family members. Many children were also among those killed.[6] 17 more people succumbed to their injuries in the days after the attack, bringing the death toll to 80.[5] The final death toll was put at 92.
Responsibility[]
The day after the attack, a local affiliate of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS, the Islamic State, or Daesh) claimed responsibility for the attack.[17][18] 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.[19] The follow-up car bombing has not been confirmed by the authorities.[20]
The Taliban denied responsibility for the attack,[6][21] with a spokesman stating that the Taliban "condemns [the bombing] in the strongest terms".[6]
Reactions[]
Domestic[]
President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani declared a day of mourning.[20] 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."[22][23]
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 [sic] targeting civilians inside a hotel in Kabul city," while also adding that "Such barbaric deliberate attacks against civilians including women and children are forbidden and unjustifiable."[21]
See also[]
- Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province
- Persecution of Hazara people
References[]
- ^ "Afghanistan war: Tracking the killings in August 2019". BBC News. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ "Suicide attack targeting Kabul wedding kills at least 60". France 24. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ Sediqi, Abdul Qadir (17 August 2019). "Afghan wedding suicide blast kills 63, amid hopes for talks". Reuters. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ "Bomb blast at wedding party in Kabul, Afghanistan kills 63 and injures 182 more". Sky News. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Death toll in Afghanistan wedding blast rises to 80". Al Jazeera. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g Constable, Pamela; Hassan, Sharif (18 August 2019). "Islamic State claims suicide attack on Kabul wedding that killed 63". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ "Bomb kills 63 at wedding in Kabul". BBC News. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
- ^ "Wedding bombing: Afghanistan postpones 100th Independence Day celebrations". Indo-Asian News Service. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019 – via Khaleej Times.
- ^ "Death toll from weekend Kabul wedding attack now 80". Agence France-Presse. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019 – via The Straits Times.
- ^ "Kabul blast in "Dubai City" wedding hall: 63 killed, 182 wounded". Gulf News. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ Gul, Ayaz (18 August 2019). "Suicide Bombing of Wedding Party in Kabul Killed 63". Voice of America. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ "Fears of many deaths after bomb explodes at Kabul wedding". Radio New Zealand. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ a b Mengli, Ahmed; Yusufzai, Mushtaq; Talmazan, Yuliya (18 August 2019). "'The suffering will continue': Groom mourns 63 killed at Afghan wedding amid U.S. withdrawal talks". NBC News. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ Prokos, Hayley (17 August 2019). "Possibly Hundreds Caught In Blast Inside Wedding Hall In Kabul". Newsweek. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ a b c Mashal, Mujib; Faizi, Fatima; Abed, Fahim (18 August 2019). "One Minute It Was an Afghan Wedding. The Next, a Funeral for 63". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ Faiez, Rahim; Anna, Cara (18 August 2019). "Islamic State claims bombing at Kabul wedding that killed 63". Associated Press. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ "Afghanistan: Scores killed in Kabul wedding blast". Al Jazeera. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ "ISIS claims Afghan wedding suicide blast that killed 63". Reuters. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019 – via The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ "Kabul wedding blast: Groom has 'lost hope' after deadly attack". BBC News. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Islamic State claims responsibility for bombing at Kabul wedding that killed 63". CBS News. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Taliban reacts to deadly Kabul wedding hall bombing which killed at least 63". Khaama Press. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ "Afghan president says Taliban can't escape blame for deadly bombing". Reuters. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ Ghani, Ashraf [@ashrafghani] (17 August 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.
External links[]
- Afghanistan: Bomb kills 63 at wedding in Kabul
- Dozens Wounded In Blasts As Afghanistan Marks Independence Day
- Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul wedding hall blast
- 63 Killed as Explosion Turns Kabul Wedding Into Carnage
- 2019 in Kabul
- 2019 murders in Afghanistan
- 2010s crimes in Kabul
- 21st-century mass murder in Afghanistan
- Attacks on buildings and structures in Kabul
- Attacks on weddings
- August 2019 crimes in Asia
- August 2019 events in Afghanistan
- ISIL terrorist incidents in Afghanistan
- Islamic terrorism in Kabul
- Islamic terrorist incidents in 2019
- Mass murder in 2019
- Mass murder in Kabul
- Persecution of Hazara people
- Suicide bombings in 2019
- Suicide bombings in Kabul
- Terrorist incidents in Afghanistan in 2019
- Violence against Shia Muslims in Afghanistan