Kabul bomb: Dozens killed in Afghan capital's diplomatic zone
Source: BBC
Kabul bomb: Dozens killed in Afghan capital's diplomatic zone
34 minutes ago
From the section Asia
A powerful vehicle bomb has struck the diplomatic area of the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing at least 80 people and injuring 350. The blast struck close to the German embassy in Zanbaq Square with civilians said to be the main casualties. The wounded staggered from the site of a blast so strong it blew out windows and doors hundreds of metres away.
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The bomb went off at about 08:25 local time (03:55 GMT) during the rush hour in the Afghan capital. Makeshift ambulances carried wounded away from the scene as frantic relatives gathered at the cordoned-off perimeter of the blast site. Images showed dozens of blackened and burned out cars.
Basir Mujahid a spokesman for Kabul police, told Reuters news agency the explosion had taken place close to the German embassy but added it was "hard to say what the exact target is". There are many other key buildings in the area, including the presidential palace and a number of embassies, including the British.
Some reports say the bomb was in a lorry or water tanker. Questions will surely be asked about how an attack could target such a heavily fortified area. The zone is considered the safest in the capital, with 3m (10ft) high blast walls.
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The health ministry said the casualty figures were expected to rise further. Spokesman Ismael Kawoosi said: "They are still bringing bodies and wounded people to hospitals." The interior ministry has called on residents to donate blood.
A German security source said it was unclear whether any of Germany's embassy staff had been killed or injured. French officials said the country's embassy had been damaged, along with the German embassy, but there were no signs at this stage of any French casualties. India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said the staff of its embassy, close to the blast, were safe. Two Japanese embassy staff members were slightly wounded.
A journalist for Afghanistan's Tolo news agency said some of the victims were from the Roshan mobile phone company, but this has not been confirmed.
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Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40102903
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