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KABUL, Afghanistan – The bombing of a religious rally in Kabul on Tuesday killed at least 43 people, Afghan officials said.
Wahid Majrooh, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health, said that in addition to those killed, 83 people were injured in an explosion at the Uranus wedding palace near the international airport Kabul, and that the authorities were still trying to determine the toll. He added that 24 of the wounded were in critical condition.
Najib Danish, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, called the suicide attack and confirmed the death toll.
Witnesses said that there were a thousand people in the room at the time of the blast. Among them were religious and religious scholars as well as others who had gathered to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, a national holiday in Afghanistan.
President Ashraf Ghani described the attack as "a crime against Islam and humanity" and declared Wednesday a day of national mourning.
Shamsul Dua, 50, ice cream seller, came out of the hall with his hands, feet and clothes covered in blood. He added that the blast had occurred seven or eight minutes after the start of the rally.
"I could only see smoke and debris starting to fall from the ceiling," he said. "I personally saw 30 or 40 dead." Mr. Dua said that he had traveled 40 minutes by bike to attend the meeting, which was held each year in the lobby.
It took 40 minutes before the ambulances arrived to evacuate many wounded, he said. Ambulances were seen coming and going from the wedding palace an hour after the blast, which took place around 6:15 pm
"We are still trying to find out how many people were killed and how many were injured," Majrooh said.
Muhammad Hashim, a 36-year-old survivor, said the explosion took place as Quranic verses were recited to begin the commemoration. "Many people were trampled while others were trying to escape," he said. "There are many more than 40 dead inside."
Nek Amal, 18, was one of many people gathered outside the lobby looking for new friends and family.
"My brother is inside and I am trying to reach him but he is not answering the phone," said Amal. "He is there with many friends of his and they are not answering their phones either."
Wedding halls, mosques and religious gatherings have been particularly targeted by the Islamic State in Afghanistan, but nothing has been claimed in the immediate future. It was the first major bombing in the capital since a suicide bombing by an Islamic state. hit a wrestling gym in September, killing no less than 30 wrestlers during a workout.
After a period of horrific and frequent attacks against vulnerable targets in the capital during the summer, the Afghan security forces have as a top priority to disrupt the cells of the Islamic State in Kabul, with the help of the new commander of US troops and NATO in the country, General Austin Scott Miller.
Dozens of suspects were arrested in the capital in September on the eve of Ashura, an annual Shiite commemoration frequently targeted. Officials believe that these raids have significantly reduced the number of attacks.
The Taliban, still responsible for most of the escalating violence throughout the country, have repudiated attacks against civilian targets. There has been speculation that Taliban insurgents, at least, would refrain from suicide bombings in the capital as they were exploring preliminary peace talks with the US government.
