ISIS claims responsibility for deadly bus blast in Kabul’s shiite neighborhood
The Islamic State group asserted responsibility for a fatal explosion targeting a bus in Kabul’s predominantly Shiite Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood. The blast claimed the lives of two individuals and left 14 others injured, according to Khalid Zadran, the spokesperson for Kabul police.
Zadran reported that the explosion occurred in the heart of Dasht-e-Barchi, a neighborhood predominantly inhabited by the historically marginalized Shiite Hazara community. The victims, identified as civilians, were immediately transported to hospitals for medical attention, while law enforcement initiated an investigation into the incident.
This marks the latest in a series of attacks in the area, with IS’s regional chapter announcing their involvement through the messaging platform Telegram. In a similar incident last November, IS claimed responsibility for an explosion on a bus in Dasht-e-Barchi, resulting in the deaths of at least seven individuals. The extremist group has long targeted Shiites, considering them heretics.
Despite a significant reduction in bomb blasts and suicide attacks following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, Afghanistan continues to face security challenges from various armed groups, including the lingering threat posed by ISIS. The government and law enforcement agencies remain vigilant to address and counteract these persistent security concerns.
