A Suicide Bomber at a Wedding in Afghanistan

By: Andrea Wittenbarger

On August 17, 2019, there was a bombing at a wedding in Afghanistan. The suicide bomber stood in the middle of the dancing crowd while they celebrated the wedding. He then set off his vest that was filled with explosives, killing dozens of people. He detonated his explosives near the stage where the musicians were playing their music. There were more than 1,200 people invited to the wedding. The bombing had killed 63 people and injured 182. On August 7th, a Taliban car bomb detonated his explosives on the same road, killing 14 and injuring 145. 

            The bombing was the deadliest attack in the capital this year. It took place in a Western Kabul neighborhood. The name of the place this attack happened at was Dubai City wedding hall. The part of the city that it took place at was home to the Shiite Hazara community. ISIS has claimed responsibility for many attacks targeting the Shiite community in the past, but has denied responsibility for this attack. The Taliban has also denied any involvement in the attack. 

            The survivors remembered a panicked scene in the dark hall, while people were screaming, looking for their loved ones. Some of the survivors and families of the victims have helped to dig graves with their bare hands. The explosion happened just before Afghanistan's 100th Independence Day. An event that was planned to celebrate the Independence Day has been postponed due to the attack. Many people feel unsafe with an approaching deal between the United States and the Taliban to end America's longest war. They feel unsafe because they think more attacks like this one might happen.