Blast near Afghanistan’s foreign ministry kills at least two: NGO | News
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Twelve people are also injured in the explosion in downtown Kabul, according to a hospital run by an Italian NGO.
At least two people have been killed and 12 injured in a blast near Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to a hospital run by an Italian NGO in Kabul.
“We received some patients,” Stefano Sozza of the Italian NGO Emergency said on Monday.
The charity runs a surgical centre in downtown Kabul specialising in treating victims of Afghanistan’s long war.
A tweet from the NGO said at least one child was among the injured.
Sozza said Monday’s explosion took place near the foreign ministry.
A blast happened on Foreign Ministry’s road near the Daudzai Trade Center in downtown Kabul this afternoon, eyewitnesses said, describing it as a heavy explosion.
Officials have not commented on the incident. Details to follow.#TOLOnews pic.twitter.com/mm5jX4x0ED— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) March 27, 2023
Two witnesses told the Reuters news agency they heard the sound of a large explosion near the heavily fortified area that is home to several government buildings and foreign embassies.
Spokespeople for the police and the information and foreign ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The cause of the blast was not immediately clear.
Kabul and other urban areas have been hit by attacks in recent months, some of which have been claimed by ISIL (ISIS).
A blast in January killed at least five people and injured dozens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as employees streamed out of the building at the end of their work day.
The Taliban administration has said it is focused on securing the country and has carried out several raids against suspected ISIL members in recent weeks.
Monday’s incident took place around lunchtime when the city is especially crowded as government office staff leave early for the day during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.
Local media reported all routes leading to the blast scene were cordoned off by police.
