UPDATE - Chinese citizen, Afghans among 7 dead in Kabul restaurant blast

UPDATES WITH NEW CASUALTIES; CHANGES TO HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – Seven people, including one Chinese citizen and six Afghans, died when a blast took place in a restaurant in the Afghan capital Kabul on Monday, authorities said.

Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zahran said on US social media company X that the blast took place at around 3pm (1030GMT) near the restaurant in the Shahr-e-Naw area of Kabul.

The restaurant was managed together by a Chinese Muslim, Abdul Majid, his wife, and an Afghan national, Abdul Jabbar Mahmoud.

Zahran said that in the explosion, a Chinese Muslim named Ayub and six Afghans lost their lives, while several others were wounded.

He added that the cause of the explosion remains unclear, and an investigation is underway.

At least 20 people, including women and children, were transported to EMERGENCY's Surgical Center following the blast, with seven declared dead on arrival, the humanitarian group said in a statement.

“So far, we have received twenty people at our hospital,” said Dejan Panic, EMERGENCY’s country director in Afghanistan. “Among the wounded are four women and a child. The wounded, some of whom are being assessed for surgery, have suffered lacerations and bruises. Unfortunately, seven people were already dead on arrival.”