Huge explosion hit in diplomatic area of Afghan capital but blast’s target unknown; most casualties were civilians, officials said
Men move injured man to hospital after blast in Kabul, Afghanistan on May 31,2017
Last Updated May 31,2017 2: 57 AM EDT
KABUL, Afghanistan — A massive explosion rocked a highly secure diplomatic area of Kabul Wednesday morning, causing casualties and sending a huge plume of smoke over the Afghan capital.
Afghanistan’s Health Ministry told CBS News the blast left more than 80 dead and more than 300 wounded.
The target of the attack — which Afghan officials said was a suicide car bombing — wasn’t immediately known but Ismail Kawasi, spokesman of the public health ministry, said most of the casualties were civilians.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast but both the Taliban and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have staged large-scale attacks in the Afghan capital in the past.
The explosion occurred at the peak of Kabul’s rush hour when roads are packed with worktime commuters.
The neighborhood is considered Kabul’s safest area, with foreign embassies protected by dozens of 10-foot-high blast walls and government offices, guarded by police and national security forces. The German Embassy, the Foreign Ministry and the Presidential Palace are all in the area as are the British and the Canadian embassies. The Chinese, Turkish and Iranian embassies are also located there.
Shortly after the explosion, all roads in Wazir Akbar Khan were blocked off by Afghan security forces and helicopters were deployed over the neighborhood.
Smoke rises from the site of a blast in Kabul, Afghanistan on May 31,2017
The U. S.-led NATO coalition, Operation Resolute Support, said in a statement that the bombing happened near its headquarters and the German Embassy.
The French and Iranian Embassies were apparently damaged in the blast but it was unclear if anyone inside was hurt or killed.
Najib Danish, deputy spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, said the blast was so heavy more than 30 vehicles were either destroyed or damaged at the site of the attack. «We don’t know at this moment what was the target of the attack, but most of the casualties are civilians, » said Danish.
Windows were shattered in shops, restaurants and other buildings up to a half mile from the blast site.
«There are a large number of casualties, but I don’t know, how many people are killed or wounded, » said an eyewitness at the site, Gul Rahim.
Last month, the Afghan Taliban announced the beginning of their spring offensive, promising to build their political base in the country while focusing military assaults on the international coalition and Afghan security forces.
U. S. and Afghan forces have been battling the Taliban insurgency for more than 15 years. The United States now has more than 8,000 troops in Afghanistan, training local forces and conducting counterterrorism operations. In the past year, they have largely concentrated on thwarting a surge of attacks by the Taliban, who have captured key districts, such as Helmand province, which U. S. and British troops had fought bitterly to return to the government.
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