7 Killed in Bus Bombing in Afghanistan

Local officials say a bombing blast on a minibus in Herat, Afghanistan's western metropolis, has killed at least seven people and injured numerous others, according to ABNA.

On Saturday, the bombing took place near a bus terminal in an area of the country's third-largest city that is home to the minority Shia Hazara group. Prior to the explosion, a sticky bomb was connected to the vehicle's fuel tank. In addition, nine people were injured.

"Four women were among the seven dead," Arif Jalali, the chief of Herat's provincial hospital, told AFP.

The incident was also confirmed by Sabit Harwi, a spokeswoman for Herat's intelligence agency. "According to initial reports, it was a sticky bomb affixed to the passenger vehicle's gasoline tank."

The bombing was also confirmed by the Herat provincial police and the ministry of culture.

No one has claimed credit for the attack so far, but Taliban leaders have previously blamed the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group for similar attacks on civilians.

Daesh has a presence in eastern and northern Afghanistan, primarily in Nangarhar, the war-torn country's de facto capital. It has recently claimed credit for a number of strikes in Afghanistan.

The Hazara ethnic group, the poorest of Afghanistan's ethnic groupings, makes up around 22% of the country's population. Daesh has already targeted its members in a number of large-scale kidnappings and killings across Afghanistan.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, the country's security has significantly improved. Each week, however, multiple incidents are reported across the country, some of which are claimed by Daesh.

The Taliban, who had previously controlled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, retook power on August 15, just as the US was about to evacuate its troops in a disorderly manner. On September 7, the group declared the formation of a caretaker administration. Their rule has yet to be recognised by any government.