Explosion in Afghan capital Kabul injures at least 10

Taliban officials say a hand grenade was thrown at a currency market in an attempted robbery

Taliban fighters stand guard in front of the entrance of the money exchange Sarai Shahzada market in Kabul on December 20, 2021. AFP

A grenade attack at Afghanistan’s biggest currency exchange market wounded at least 10 people on Sunday, including traders and visitors, the Taliban's interior ministry said

The ministry said the attack on the Sarai Shahzada market in the centre of Kabul was carried out by a person who had “planned a robbery”.

Witnesses at the scene put the number of wounded at 15.

Associated Press TV showed passersby carrying injured people from the site.

Wais Ahmad, a money changer, told Associated Press the market was closed at the time of the incident.

The blast was the first in the Afghan capital in months. The Taliban have stepped up security throughout most of the country since seizing power in August.

Taliban troops monitor dozens of checkpoints throughout the city.

A Taliban fighter stands guard outside the entrance of the money exchange Sarai Shahzada market in Kabul on December 20, 2021. AFP

The greatest threat facing the Taliban comes from the ISIS group affiliate known as Islamic State in Khorasan Province, or ISIS-K. The Taliban have cracked down on the organisation in its stronghold in eastern Afghanistan.

ISIS-K said late on Saturday that they had blown up a Taliban vehicle in Kabul, killing everyone inside it. But there was no confirmation from the Taliban or signs of such an explosion on Saturday.

The ISIS-K statement also claimed responsibility for an explosion in western Herat province targeting the country’s minority Shiite Muslims. There was, however, no confirmation of any explosion in Herat.