Afghanistan: IS claims deadly Kabul attack June 4 /update 1

Event

The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing attack targeting religious scholars in Kabul's 5th district on Monday, June 4, which killed at least 14 people and wounded 19 others. The attack reportedly took place at the entrance of the Loya Jirga tent near Kabul Polytechnic University at around 11:30 (local time) as a religious conference drew to a close.

A second explosion was reported in the Kote Sangi area of Kabul around 12:00 on Monday. According to reports, a magnetic bomb detonation targeted a police vehicle, wounding three people. It was not immediately clear which group carried out this attack. Additional militant attacks, including by IS fighters, are possible in Kabul in the near-term.

Context

Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) is active in Afghanistan and has carried out several attacks in the country in recent months. Notably, IS-KP claimed responsibility for a complex attack on Kabul's Ministry of Interior on May 30, which killed at least one police officer and wounded five others. 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.