Taliban advances in central Kabul turn into ”blood bath”

At least 17 people were killed by gunfire while celebrating in the Afghan capital Kabul, which has been under the control of the Taliban since August 14, wire services reported Saturday.

The celebrations took place as Taliban sources said the militants took control of Panshir province, which has remained steadfast against the group.

Anti-Taliban leaders denied the province fell into the hands of the group. Shamshad News Agency reported that “shooting in the air” in Kabul on Friday left 17 people dead and 41 injured.

Meanwhile, the Syrian news agency Toloe ported a similar death toll.

Gul Zadeh Sanjar, a spokesman for a hospital in the city of Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, said at least 14 people were injured by celebratory gunfire in the province, which is east of the capital Kabul.

Dhabiullah Mojaheed, the Taliban’s chief spokesman, criticized the firing behavior because bullets can harm civilians “not shoot unnecessarily.”