Afghanistan: Blast at voter registration center in Khost kills 17 people May 6

Event

A blast at a mosque serving as a voter registration center in Khost province killed at least 17 people and wounded 34 others on Sunday, May 6. The detonation was reportedly caused by explosives left at the mosque. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack; the Taliban issued a statement denying involvement. Additional militant attacks targeting voter registration centers are expected in Afghanistan in the coming weeks and months ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled in October.

Context

Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) is active in Afghanistan and has carried out several attacks in the country in recent months. Recently, IS-KP claimed responsibility for a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attack that was carried out near a voter registration center in Jalalabad (Nangarhar province) on April 29, wounding at least seven people. Notably, IS-KP also carried out a suicide bombing attack on a voter registration center in Kabul on April 22, killing at least 69 people and wounding around 120 others.

Advice

The security environment in Afghanistan remains complex. Although travel is possible in some areas with proper security protocols in place, other areas should be considered strictly off-limits. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.