At least 80 killed, 320 injured in Kabul suicide car attack in diplomatic zone
Kabul, May 31 (IBNS) : The death toll in a massive suicide car bomb blast that ripped through Kabul's diplomatic quarter Wednesday has climbed to at least 80 while 320 people, including women and children, were left injured, reports said.
The blast took place at around 08 30 am on Wazir Akbar Khan road close to the Zanbaq square- Kabul's high security diplomatic area where the Indian embassy and several other diplomatic missions are located.
Al Jazeera quoted police and health official sources as saying that least 80 people were killed and more than 300 wounded in the attack. The death toll was expected to rise.
Other media reports also quoted Afghanistan health ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh as saying that the toll is 80, though the state-run Khaama Press put the number of dead at 64.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the bomb blast in Kabul and underlined the need for defeating forces supporting terrorism. The PM, who is in Spain on a visit, said India stands with Afghanistan in fighting all forms of terrorism.
“We strongly condemn the terrorist blast in Kabul. Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with the injured,” Modi tweeted on Wednesday.
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.
Most of the victims are reported to be civilians.
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.
Top Headlines
-
News
PM Modi to inaugurate new Pamban Rail Bridge, connecting Rameswaram to mainland, today
April 06, 2025
-
News
Thousands hit streets across US to protest against Donald Trump's divisive policies
April 06, 2025
-
News
Avoid rhetoric that vitiates environment: Modi urges Yunus during Bangkok meeting
April 04, 2025
-
News
'Heard India will be dropping its tariffs substantially': Donald Trump ahead of announcing reciprocal tariff
April 01, 2025
-
News
Israel Defense Forces says senior Hezbollah official Hassan Ali Mahmoud Bdeir eliminated
April 01, 2025
-
News
Red Cross 'outraged' by deaths of eight medics in Gaza
March 31, 2025
-
News
More than 150 killed, hundreds injured as 6 earthquakes devastate Myanmar, tremors felt in Bangkok
March 28, 2025
-
News
'Now it's our turn': Vladimir Putin accepts Narendra Modi's invitation to visit India
March 27, 2025
-
News
Canada Polls: Khalistani critic Chandra Arya barred from running under Liberal Party's banner over alleged 'India' ties
March 26, 2025
-
News
Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal attacked, arrested In West Bank, claims co-directors
March 25, 2025