Huge Kandahar Blast Kills 43, but Taliban Deny Role

A Taliban spokesman today denied that the group was behind a huge explosion that killed at least 43 and injured 65 more in Kandahar last night. Roughly 40 shops were destroyed in the blast, which went off outside a wedding hall just as people were breaking their Ramadan fast. Rescue workers are still pulling people from the wreckage.

“We condemn this attack in which innocent civilians were killed,” the Taliban spokesman said. And people on the street believe that denial, according to an al-Jazeera reporter. “They are pointing their fingers at the Americans and the Pakistanis.” It was one of the biggest blasts in Afghanistan since 2001. “People here are angry and shocked,” said the reporter. “They are used to bombings, but not on this scale.” (More Afghanistan stories.)