BREAKING | Explosion Strikes Kabul Hotel in Afghanistan, 7 Killed, Several Injured

New Delhi: Several people were killed in a blast at a hotel in central Kabul on Monday (January 19), officials said. The explosion's cause is still unknown.

The explosion occurred at a hotel in the Shahr-e-Naw area, according to spokesman Khalid Zadran, and many people were killed. Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani also confirmed that the explosion triggered both deaths and injuries, adding that investigations were underway.

"Preliminary reports indicate that several people were killed and injured," Qani stated. The precise number of casualties was not disclosed by either authority.

Local television station Tolo News broadcast footage of people standing on a street with smoke and dust rising in the backdrop. The footage was captured via a car's windscreen.

A hotel in the bustling Shahr-e-Naw neighborhood was the target of the explosion, according to Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran. It is regarded as one of Kabul's safest areas and is home to sizable office buildings, retail centers, and embassies.

So far, no organization has taken credit for the explosion. The Taliban promised to reestablish security after taking control of Afghanistan in 2021. These assaults have persisted, though, with the local branch of the extremist Islamic State claiming responsibility for many of them.

This is a developing story….