Numerous people have been killed and many more injured in a suicide bombing outside the Afghan foreign ministry in Kabul.
Police reported that at least 5 civilians had died, but a Taliban official said that there may have been as many as 20.
According to the Taliban, the attack began about 16:00 local time (11:30 GMT) when the bomber attempted but failed to enter the ministry building itself.
Several countries, including Turkey and China, have embassies in the area.
In a post on Telegram, the local branch of the Islamic State group known as Islamic State – Khorasan Province (Isis-K) claimed responsibility for the attack.
According to reports, a Chinese delegation was scheduled to meet with Afghan government representatives inside the foreign ministry building at the time of the attack.
“There was supposed to be a Chinese delegation at the foreign ministry today, but we don’t know if they were present at the time of the blast,” Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Muhajer Farahi said.
The foreign ministry itself did not seem to have sustained much damaged.
The incident was condemned by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and several other countries, including Pakistan.
“Rising insecurity is of grave concern. Violence is not part of any solution to bring lasting peace to Afghanistan. Our condolences to the families affected,” UNAMA stated in a tweet on Wednesday January 11.
United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West offered his condolences to the victims.
“My sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the terrorist attack in Kabul today, have seen reports of at least 20 dead and many more injured. This violence serves no purpose,” he said.
The attack was characterized as cowardly by Kabul police, who also added in a statement that those responsible would be held accountable.
Author-Roberta Appiah
