More than 50 people killed in a suicide bombing in the Afghan capital: NPR

More than 50 people were killed when a suicide bomb attack targeted a gathering of scholars celebrating a religious holiday in Kabul on Tuesday, Afghan government officials said.

"A suicide bomber blew up his explosives in a wedding hall where Islamic religious scholars had gathered to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Prophet Mohammad," said the ministry spokesman. 39 Interior, Najib Danish, according to the Reuters news agency.

At least 80 people were injured. Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said 20 of the wounded were in critical condition and the death toll was likely to increase, the Associated Press reported.

Diaa Hadid, of NPR, said the target "suggested that it was the work of Sunni extremists who believe that every birthday celebration of the Prophet Muhammad is idolatry," said Diaa Hadid, of NPR.

Wednesday was declared the day of national mourning by the Afghan president, according to Hadid.

A Kabul police spokesman, Basir Mujahid, told AP that event organizers had not asked for help to secure the wedding hall.

"The kamikaze apparently entered these people – the explosives, according to a very powerful Afghan official – and blew himself up," an independent journalist, Jennifer Glasse told the NPR. Morning edition. "The bomber was definitely trying to kill as many people as possible."

Glasse noted that the room could accommodate up to 1,000 people.

According to a server of the wedding hall, the scale of the destruction was immediately obvious.

"Everything was covered with smoke and dust," Mohammad Muzamil told AP. "There were a lot of corpses on the chairs around us."

The US State Department condemned the attack, saying in a statement: "This shameless act occurs as the Afghan people attempt to peacefully celebrate Milad-a-Nabi and reveal the cowardice and cruelty of those perpetuating violence in Afghanistan. "

The attack was the largest ever in Afghanistan's most populous city in recent months.

"It's been really calm in Kabul for a month or two," Glasse said. "We had parliamentary elections in October, both the Taliban and the Islamic State targeted the preparation of these elections and the elections themselves, and people are watching and waiting for what could happen."

In June, there was a three-day ceasefire between the Taliban and the Afghan government, which, according to Glasse, sparked the hope of many people to see peace prevail.

"Now, people are wondering what happens to prospects for peace," she said. "Really, we will have to wait to see who claims responsibility for this attack."