7 Killed in Kabul Chinese Restaurant Explosion

An explosion at a Chinese restaurant in central Kabul killed seven people and wounded more than a dozen others on January 19, 2026, authorities and emergency responders reported. The blast occurred in the Shahre Naw district, a bustling area known for its flower sellers and proximity to foreign offices and embassies.

Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran identified the site as the Chinese Noodle restaurant, which primarily served Chinese Muslims. He said the device detonated near the kitchen around 3:30 p.m. local time, killing one Chinese Muslim man named Ayub and six Afghans. Several others were injured in the crowded street, Zadran added in a statement, noting that the cause remained under investigation. Earlier reports from police had described the target as a hotel, but officials later clarified it as the restaurant.

The Italian NGO EMERGENCY, which operates a surgical center near the scene, reported receiving 20 people from the blast, including seven who arrived dead. Thirteen survivors were admitted for treatment, suffering lacerations, bruises, and other injuries, according to Dejan Panic, the organization's country director in Afghanistan. Among the wounded were four...