At least 50 people were killed and 75 injured in the bombing of a crowded religious gathering in Kabul on Tuesday.

Afghan officials were trying to determine the exact toll of dead and wounded after the attack at the Uranus Wedding Palace, near Kabul’s international airport. Wahid Majrooh, spokesman for the public health ministry, said 24 of the wounded were in critical condition.

Witnesses said there were a thousand people inside the hall when the explosion took place. They included clerics and religious scholars along with others who had gathered to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, a national holiday in Afghanistan.

Najib Danish, the spokesman for the interior ministry, called it a suicide bombing and confirmed the death toll. President Ashraf Ghani called the attack “a crime against Islam and humanity” and declared Wednesday a national day of mourning.

Shamsul Dua (50), an ice cream vendor, emerged from the hall with his hands, feet and clothing covered in blood. He said the explosion took place seven or eight minutes after the gathering began. “I could only see smoke and debris started falling from the ceiling,” he said. “I personally saw 30 or 40 dead.”

Mr Dua said he had ridden 40 minutes on his bicycle to attend the gathering, which was held at the hall annually. It was 40 minutes before ambulances arrived to evacuate many of the wounded, he said.

Ambulances were seen still coming and going from the wedding palace an hour after the blast, which took place at about 6.15pm (1.45pm Irish time).

Muhammad Hashim (36), a survivor, said the blast occurred as verses from the Koran were being recited to begin the commemoration. “A lot of people were trampled as others were trying to flee,” he said. “There are a lot more than 40 dead in there.”

Nek Amal (18), was among many who gathered outside the hall seeking news of friends and family members inside. “My brother is inside and I’ve been trying to reach him but he is not answering the phone,” Mr Amal said. “He is there with many friends of his and they’re not answering their phones either.”

Wedding halls, mosques and religious gatherings have been particular targets of the Islamic State terror group in Afghanistan, but there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. It was the first major bombing in the capital since an Islamic State suicide bomber struck a wrestling gym in September, killing as many as 30 wrestlers during a training session.

After a period of frequent, gruesome attacks against soft targets in the capital over the summer, Afghan security forces have made it a priority to disrupt Islamic State cells in Kabul, with assistance ordered by the new commander of US and Nato troops in the country, Gen Austin Scott Miller.

Dozens of suspects were arrested in the capital in September on the eve of Ashura, a Shia annual commemoration that has frequently been targeted. Officials believe those raids significantly lowered the number of attacks.

The Taliban, still responsible for most of the escalating violence throughout the country, have disavowed attacks on civilian targets. There has been speculation that Taliban insurgents, at least, have been refraining from suicide attacks in the capital as they explore preliminary peace talks with the US government. – New York Times</s>Kabul: A suicide bomber blew himself up in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, killing more than 50 people and wounding more than 80, three government officials said.

Several people said the blast targeted a gathering of Sunni Muslims who were commemorating the anniversary of the prophet Muhammad's birth.

"A suicide bomber detonated his explosives inside a wedding hall where Islamic religious scholars had gathered to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad," Najib Danish, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said.

The attacker entered a banquet room in the Uranus wedding hall, a massive complex housing several large banqueting halls near Kabul airport, and detonated his explosives.</s>KABUL (Reuters) - A suicide bomber blew himself up in a banqueting hall where Islamic religious scholars had gathered in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, killing more than 50 people, three government officials said.

Najib Danish, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said more than 80 other people had been injured.

“A suicide bomber detonated his explosives inside a wedding hall where Islamic religious scholars had gathered to commemorate the anniversary of the Prophet Mohammad’s birth,” Danish said.

The attacker entered a banquet room in the Uranus wedding hall, a massive complex housing several large banqueting halls near Kabul airport, and detonated his explosives.

“Hundreds of Islamic scholars and their followers had gathered to recite verses from the holy Quran to observe the Eid Milad-un-Nabi festival at the private banquet hall,” said Basir Mujahid, a spokesman for Kabul police.

Officials at Kabul’s Emergency Hospital said 30 ambulances had rushed to the blast site and over 40 people were critically wounded.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the blast.</s>KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A suicide bomber targeted a gathering of Muslim religious scholars in the Afghan capital on Tuesday, killing at least 40 people, Afghan officials said.

Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said another 60 people were wounded in the attack, which took place as Muslims around the world marked the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. He said the toll could rise.

The suicide bomber was able to sneak into a wedding hall in Kabul where hundreds of religious scholars and clerics had gathered to mark the occasion.

"The victims of the attack unfortunately are all religious scholars who gathered to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad," said Basir Mujahid, spokesman for the Kabul police chief. He said police had not been asked to provide security for the event, and that the bomber had easily slipped into the hall.

No one immediately claimed the attack, but both the Taliban and a local Islamic State affiliate have targeted religious scholars aligned with the government in the past.

IS claimed a suicide bombing in June that targeted a meeting of the country's top clerics in the capital. That attack killed at least seven people and wounded 20. The body of religious leaders, known as the Afghan Ulema Council, had issued a decree against suicide attacks and called for peace talks.

IS said it had targeted "tyrant clerics" who were siding with the U.S.-backed government.

The Taliban denied involvement in the June attack but they also denounced the gathering.

Both militant groups want to overthrow the U.S.-backed government and impose a harsh form of Islamic rule, but they are bitterly divided over leadership and ideology, and they have clashed on a number of occasions.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>Afghan official: Suicide bomber strikes gathering of religious scholars in Kabul; at least 50 killed and wounded

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan official: Suicide bomber strikes gathering of religious scholars in Kabul; at least 50 killed and wounded.</s>KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A suicide bomber targeted a gathering of Muslim religious scholars in the Afghan capital on Tuesday, killing at least 40 people, Afghan officials said.

Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said another 60 people were wounded in the attack, which took place as Muslims around the world marked the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. He said the toll could rise.

The suicide bomber was able to sneak into a wedding hall in Kabul where hundreds of religious scholars and clerics had gathered to mark the occasion.

"The victims of the attack unfortunately are all religious scholars who gathered to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad," said Basir Mujahid, spokesman for the Kabul police chief. He said police had not been asked to provide security for the event, and that the bomber had easily slipped into the hall.

No one immediately claimed the attack, but both the Taliban and a local Islamic State affiliate have targeted religious scholars aligned with the government in the past.

IS claimed a suicide bombing in June that targeted a meeting of the country's top clerics in the capital. That attack killed at least seven people and wounded 20. The body of religious leaders, known as the Afghan Ulema Council, had issued a decree against suicide attacks and called for peace talks.

A man injured in a suicide bombing is brought into a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, Nov. 20, 2018. Afghan officials said the suicide bomber targeted a gathering of Muslim religious scholars in Kabul, killing at least tens of people. A Public Health Ministry spokesman said another 60 people were wounded in the attack, which took place as Muslims around the world marked the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

IS said it had targeted "tyrant clerics" who were siding with the U.S.-backed government.

The Taliban denied involvement in the June attack but they also denounced the gathering.

Both militant groups want to overthrow the U.S.-backed government and impose a harsh form of Islamic rule, but they are bitterly divided over leadership and ideology, and they have clashed on a number of occasions.

A man injured in a suicide bombing is brought into a hospital for treatment, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Nov. 20, 2018. Afghan officials said the suicide bomber targeted a gathering of Muslim religious scholars in Kabul, killing at least tens of people. A Public Health Ministry spokesman said another 60 people were wounded in the attack, which took place as Muslims around the world marked the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

A man injured in a suicide bombing is brought into a hospital for treatment, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Nov. 20, 2018. Afghan officials said the suicide bomber targeted a gathering of Muslim religious scholars in Kabul, killing at least tens of people. A Public Health Ministry spokesman said another 60 people were wounded in the attack, which took place as Muslims around the world marked the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)</s>KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A suicide bomber targeted a gathering of Muslim religious scholars in the Afghan capital on Tuesday, killing at least 40 people, Afghan officials said.

Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said another 60 people were wounded in the attack, which took place as Muslims around the world marked the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. He said the toll could rise.

The suicide bomber was able to sneak into a wedding hall in Kabul where hundreds of religious scholars and clerics had gathered to mark the occasion.

"The victims of the attack unfortunately are all religious scholars who gathered to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad," said Basir Mujahid, spokesman for the Kabul police chief. He said police had not been asked to provide security for the event, and that the bomber had easily slipped into the hall.

No one immediately claimed the attack, but both the Taliban and a local Islamic State affiliate have targeted religious scholars aligned with the government in the past.

IS claimed a suicide bombing in June that targeted a meeting of the country's top clerics in the capital. That attack killed at least seven people and wounded 20. The body of religious leaders, known as the Afghan Ulema Council, had issued a decree against suicide attacks and called for peace talks.

IS said it had targeted "tyrant clerics" who were siding with the U.S.-backed government.

The Taliban denied involvement in the June attack but they also denounced the gathering.

Both militant groups want to overthrow the U.S.-backed government and impose a harsh form of Islamic rule, but they are bitterly divided over leadership and ideology, and they have clashed on a number of occasions.</s>A suicide bomber targeted a gathering of top clerics and religious scholars in Afghanistan's Kabul, killing at least 40 people and wounding 60 others.

Spokesman Wahid Majroh told AFP that the bombing targeted an Ulema Council gathering at a wedding hall to mark the Prophet Mohammad's birthday, also known as the Mawlid al-Nabawi, in one of the deadliest attacks to strike the Afghan capital in months.

Hundreds of scholars and clerics had gathered to mark the occasion in a large wedding hall in the capital, Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said.

Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid confirmed the casualty count to Reuters. "I have confirmed reports that 40 people have been killed," Mujahid said.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but both the Taliban and a local Daesh affiliate have targeted religious scholars aligned with the government in the past.</s>KABUL — At least 40 people were killed in an explosion at a wedding hall in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, said two government officials.

More than 60 other people were injured in the blast, said Basir Mujahid spokesman for Kabul police.

"I have confirmed reports that 40 people have been killed," Mujahid told Reuters.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the blast.</s>At least 50 people were killed in a suicide attack on a religious celebration in Kabul on Tuesday, officials said, in one of the deadliest assaults to strike Afghanistan this year.

It follows a wave of bloody violence across the war-torn country in recent weeks that has killed hundreds of people as militants step up assaults amid a flurry of diplomatic efforts to end the 17-year conflict.

At least 72 people were wounded in the blast, health ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said, which targeted religious scholars and leaders inside a wedding hall where hundreds had gathered to mark the Prophet Mohammad’s birthday — one of the holiest days in the Islamic calendar.

Religious studies lecturer Mohammad Hanif said verses of the Koran were being recited when there was a deafening explosion followed by “chaos” inside the packed hall.

“More than 60 or 70 people were martyred,” Hanif, 31, told AFP outside a trauma facility run by Italian NGO Emergency. He escaped unhurt.

“They suffered burns, everyone in the halls was screaming for help.”

A photo posted on WhatsApp purportedly of the function room showed blood-splattered bodies, some with clothes partially ripped off by the force of the blast, overturned chairs and broken glass strewn over the floor.

President Ashraf Ghani declared Wednesday a national day of mourning for the victims of the attack, which he described in a statement as an “unforgivable crime”.

A manager of the multi-storey Uranus Wedding Palace, which also hosts political and religious functions, told AFP the suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of the gathering of around 1,000 people.

“There are a lot of casualties — I myself have counted 30 casualties,” he told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The aid organisation Emergency said on Twitter 33 wounded and seven dead had been taken to its hospital in Kabul.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, but the Islamic State group has claimed most recent suicide attacks in Kabul, which has become the most dangerous place in the country for civilians.

The Taliban condemned the attack in a WhatsApp message.

It was the bloodiest assault in the Afghan capital since a twin bomb attack on a wrestling club in September that killed at least 26 people, and one of the deadliest in the country this year.

A suicide attack on Afghans protesting the appointment of a local police chief in the eastern province of Nangarhar in September killed at least 68 people and wounded another 165. No group claimed that explosion.

In January an ambulance packed with explosives detonated in a crowded street in the heart of Kabul, killing more than 100 people, mostly civilians. The attack was claimed by the Taliban.

Last month’s parliamentary elections sparked a wave of deadly violence across the country, with hundreds killed or wounded in poll-related attacks.

It is not the first time religious scholars have been targeted by militants in the Islamic country.

In June a suicide bomber struck near a gathering of clerics in Kabul, about an hour after the group had proclaimed such attacks a sin.

The latest attack comes as the Taliban intensifies pressure on Afghan security forces, even as the international community ramps up efforts to convince the group to engage in peace talks.

US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad expressed hopes in Kabul on Sunday that a peace deal to end the war could be struck before the Afghan presidential election, scheduled for April.

His comments underscore an apparent increasing sense of urgency in the White House and among American diplomats for a peace deal to be done quickly.
At least 50 people are killed and 83 others wounded in a suicide bombing on a Mawlid gathering in Kabul, Afghanistan.