At least 63 people were killed and more than 180 injured after a suicide bomber targeted a wedding hall in Kabul, packed with hundreds of guests late on Saturday, according to the Afghan government official.
Interior Ministry spokesman Nusrat Rahimi confirmed the casualties and said the blast that took place at around 10.40 pm, was a suicide bombing, TOLO News reported.
According to sources and witnesses, the Shahr-e Dubai wedding hall, located in police district 6 (PD6), was packed with guests when the explosion happened.
Meanwhile, the Taliban in a statement has rejected any involvement in the attack and said they condemned incidents which target women and children.
Rahimi said the number of casualties might increase.
The venue is in western Kabul, an area home to many of Afghanistan’s Shiite Hazara minority. It is also near the Darul Aman Palace, where President Ashraf Ghani is expected to celebrate Afghan Independence Day on Monday.
Earlier this month, 14 people were killed and 145 injured in the same district when three suicide attackers detonated an improvised explosive device at the gate of the police headquarters.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the August 7 attack, even as the terror group negotiates a peace plan with Washington.