The ADF has been blamed for a deadly restaurant explosion in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Christmas Day.

At least six people were killed in a suicide bomb attack on a packed restaurant in the eastern city of Beni, according to officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The bomber was prevented from entering the building by police, but he blew himself up near the entrance, killing himself and five others.

A total of 13 persons were hurt.

Officials blamed the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant organization allied to the so-called Islamic State, for the attack on Saturday (IS).

No one has claimed responsibility for the incident so far.

Two witnesses told the AFP news agency that more than 30 people were celebrating Christmas at the In Box restaurant when the bomb went off.

At the time, children and local politicians were said to be present at the restaurant.

“I was sitting there,” said Nicolas Ekila, a local radio host. “A motorcycle was parked there.” The motorbike suddenly took off, followed by a thunderous boom.”

Following the explosion, the military officer in charge of the country’s eastern state of emergency advised locals to return home for their own safety.

In recent weeks, there have been numerous battles in Beni between the army and Islamists.

Congolese and Ugandan soldiers launched a coordinated operation against the ADF in November, hoping to put an end to a string of horrific attacks.

Ugandan authorities said the organization is responsible for a spate of recent attacks in the country, including one in Kampala, the capital.

The violent group was founded in the 1990s by Ugandans who were dissatisfied with the government’s treatment of Muslims, but it was driven out of western Uganda, and its survivors fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It established itself in eastern DR Congo over a decade ago and has been responsible for thousands of civilian deaths there, including attacks on Christians.

The ADF was added to the US list of terror groups related to ISIS in March. IS, for its part, claims to be an associate of the ADF.