[kellyhound]

Dozens of people have been killed in a powerful suicide bomb blast that targeted a large gathering of top religious figures in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.

Wahid Majroh, health ministry spokesperson, said Tuesday's explosion killed at least 50 people and wounded more than 70 others.

He added that the death toll could rise further as many of those injured were in critical condition.

Najib Danish, interior ministry spokesperson, said "a suicide bomber detonated his explosives" inside a large wedding hall where hundreds of scholars and clerics had gathered to mark the birthday of Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

"I heard the explosion, I just managed to take my cousin out of there who was seriously wounded," Ahmad Fahim said lying in a hospital bed. "But when I got here, I realised that I was wounded as well."

Religious studies lecturer Mohammad Hanif said verses of the Quran were being recited when there was a deafening explosion followed by "chaos" inside the packed hall.

"More than 60 or 70 people were martyred," Hanif, 31, told outside a trauma facility run by Italian NGO Emergency. He escaped unhurt.

"They suffered burns, everyone in the halls was screaming for help."

A manager of Uranus Wedding Palace, which also hosts political and religious functions, told a suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of the gathering of religious scholars.

"There are a lot of casualties - I myself have counted 30 casualties," he added, on the condition of anonymity.

Officials at Kabul's Emergency Hospital said 30 ambulances had rushed to the blast site and more than 40 people were critically wounded.

Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani strongly condemned the attack and declared Wednesday a day of national mourning.

[random07]

[stfmg]

[superhamster]

Uranus Wedding Palace. Of course some asshole was going to show up. Sorry to make those poor people the butt of my joke. My humor's definitely hit bottom.

[docfr8]

That's Allah's will

[soyadude]

All I can hear is:

talalalalalalalalatalalalalalasyahtalalalalalalala latalalalalalal

I wonder if google translate works on this language

[pretendz]

Religion is a racket. We need to let go of the imaginary friend in the sky. We’re getting too old for imaginary friends.

[foxfantastic]

If anyone sees any reason why these two should not be wed, detonate now or forever hold your pe...

[jsmlove]

I can understand why someone would let off a bomb there.

It was to stop that god-awful wailing!

[dano63016]

not enough bang