KABUL, 18 January 2014 – The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemns in the strongest terms a deadly attack on a strictly civilian target which took place on Friday evening in a restaurant in the capital, Kabul, killing at least 14 civilians, including Afghans and foreigners.
UNAMA understands that UN personnel may be among the dead and is seeking to verify the status of all UN personnel.
The attack involved a suicide bomber and the Taliban have claimed responsibility.
“I strongly condemn the targeting of civilians in any form, and, in particular, the continued use of suicide bombers,” said the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, Ján Kubiš. “This violence is unacceptable and must stop immediately.”
UNAMA reiterates its condemnation of attacks that deliberately target civilians as gross violations of international humanitarian law.
The UN Mission extends its sincere condolences to the families of those killed in the attack and wishes a speedy recovery to all those injured.