At least 60 killed or injured in Kabul suicide car explosion near Indian embassy
The powerful blast damaged windows and doors of the Indian embassy but External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted that all officials are safe.
"By God's grace, Indian Embassy staff are safe in the massive blast," Swaraj tweeted.
The blast took place on Wazir Akbar Khan Road close to the Zanbaq Square. The spot is outside the German Embassy and very close to the Indian Embassy. Several other foreign embassies are also located in the area.
“Massive VBIED (Vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) not too far from our Embassy,” Indian ambassador in Kabul Manpreet Vohra said.
Earlier, the Afghan Ministry of Interior spokesman Najib Danish said that a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle filled with explosives.
About 60 injured people were admitted to nearby hospitals after the blast, local TV channel Tolo News quoted health officials as saying.
The exact figure of casualty is yet to be established.
Local TV channels showed the damaged buildings and cars on the blast site with a huge plumage of smoke hanging in the air.
Similar incidents have taken place in Afghanistan in the past few months.
Earlier this month, at least eight people were killed after militants targeted a NATO convoy while it was passing the US embassy.
No group has claimed responsibility so far.
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