Suicide Bombing in Kabul Kills at Least 80
A suicide car bombing in the diplomatic quarter of Kabul has killed at least 80 people and injured more than 300 others.
According to Radio Free Europe’s Afghan Service, the explosion occurred on Wednesday morning, June 1st, in the Wazir Akbar Khan area of Kabul, near the Afghan presidential palace and a neighborhood where most embassies and foreign news agencies are located.
Hours after the explosion, Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesman, stated in a statement that the group had no involvement in the bombing. The Taliban spokesman also condemned such attacks, saying they are “purposeless and only harm civilians.”
The FARS news agency also reported that the residence of Iran’s ambassador to Afghanistan and the office of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) were damaged in the explosion.
According to Tasnim, at the time of the explosion, only two Iranian embassy staff members were present at the location and suffered “minor injuries.” According to the report, the false ceilings of the embassy and window panes were destroyed, and damage was caused to Iran’s embassy facilities.
Bashir Mujahid, a Kabul police spokesman, said the explosion occurred in front of the protected entrance to the German embassy. However, he emphasized that due to the large number of embassies and foreign offices in the area, he cannot determine the primary target of the attack.
A news source told Reuters that it is still unclear whether German embassy staff members were harmed.
Wazir Akbar Khan district is considered one of Kabul’s areas under heavy security protection by Afghan security forces and police.
According to reports, at least 30 vehicles were damaged in the explosion.
No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing so far.
Source: Radio Farda
