A powerful blast tore through a Chinese restaurant in central Kabul on Monday, killing at least seven people and injuring more than a dozen others, according to Afghan officials and emergency services. The attack was later claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group, which said it targeted Chinese nationals.

The explosion occurred at the Chinese Noodle restaurant in the Shahr-e-Naw area of Kabul, a neighbourhood known for its flower sellers and busy streets. An AFP journalist at the scene saw police vehicles and an ambulance shortly after the blast, as security forces cordoned off the area.

Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran confirmed that the explosion happened inside the restaurant. “A Chinese Muslim, Ayub, and six Afghans were killed, and several others were wounded. The blast occurred near the kitchen,” Zadran said in a statement. He added that the restaurant mainly served Chinese Muslims. Earlier, the police spokesman had said that the blast had hit a hotel, but later clarified that the target was the restaurant. He also stated that the cause of the explosion was under investigation.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement reported by the SITE Intelligence Group. According to the statement, the explosion was a suicide attack aimed at Chinese nationals. The group said, “The Islamic State in Afghanistan has placed Chinese nationals on its list of targets, especially in light of the escalating crimes committed by the Chinese government against the oppressed Uyghur Muslims.”

Italian NGO EMERGENCY, which runs a hospital close to the site of the attack, said that several casualties were brought to its facility. “Seven people [were] dead on arrival,” the organisation said, adding that 13 others were admitted to the surgical department. Dejan Panic, the NGO’s country director, said in a statement, “Among the wounded are four women and a child.”

A local flower shop owner, who asked not to be named for security reasons, described the moment of the explosion. He said the blast happened at around 3:30 pm (1100 GMT) at the other end of the street from his shop. “I heard the strong sound of a blast in the crowded area,” he told AFP. “It was an emergency situation. Everybody feared for his own life.” He added, “I could see at least five wounded.”

Despite the severity of the explosion, the area was reopened to traffic within hours. Cars were seen passing by the restaurant’s covered entrance, while windows in a building opposite the restaurant were smashed, according to an AFP photographer.

Taliban officials have repeatedly said they are committed to restoring security across Afghanistan. The authorities are also trying to attract foreign investors to boost the country’s economy, as foreign aid funding has declined sharply.

Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Chinese business visitors have increasingly travelled to Afghanistan. In 2022, the Islamic State group had also claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a Kabul hotel that was popular with Chinese guests.

China shares a rugged 76-kilometre (47-mile) border with Afghanistan and maintains close ties with the Taliban government. The latest attack highlights ongoing security challenges in Kabul, despite Taliban assurances of stability.