In one of the bloodiest attacks in the Afghan capital in recent weeks and since the start of the Afghan fighting season, the health ministry has confirmed 35 people were killed and 103 wounded in twin blasts targeting police and army officials.
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The attackers entered a building in the area, said Sediq Seddiqi, a spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Interior.
KABUL-Twin suicide bombings struck near Afghanistan’sDefense Ministry in Kabul Monday, killing at least 24 people hours before militants launched an ongoing attack on another compound in the city center. He said the attack took place as ministry employees were leaving their offices for the day.
“Right after the explosion, a huge flame rose and everything was covered with smoke, and then Afghan security forces arrived and blocked the area”, he said.
Ashuqullah, 34, who like many Afghans has no surname, described the scene of chaos he witnessed.
President Ashraf Ghani condemned the incident and said Afghanistan’s enemies – an official terminology for Pakistan – have again showed that they were against Kabul’s development.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter the defence ministry was the object of the first attack, while police were targeted in the second.
The attack will deepen the sense of insecurity and tension at a time when the USA -backed government is already facing criticism for failing to ensure security.
That attack was claimed by the Taliban and was followed a few hours later by a vehicle bomb in Share Naw, a business and residential area of the city close to the government and embassy district. The 11 p.m. explosion was followed by gunfire that continued for over an hour with sporadic shootings still under way.
Sediqqi says the police believe it is one of the guest houses in the neighborhood, which houses foreigners and diplomats.
“The first explosion occurred on a bridge near the defence ministry”.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the Share Naw attack, which caused only six injuries.
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Two blasts in quick succession hit a crowded area of the city near government buildings, a market and a main intersection, defence ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanesh said. TOLO News reported that it was not known how many terrorists were inside the building. Please see our terms of service for more information. AP material published by LongIsland.com, is done so with explicit permission.
