Bloodbath in Kabul’s Green Zone: 80 killed, 350 injured
At least 80 people were killed and more than 350 wounded when a massive bomb tore through Kabul’s strongly fortified diplomatic quarter during the Wednesday morning rush hour. Soon after the blast bodies littered the scene and a huge plume of smoke rose from the area which houses foreign embassies. The Indian and US embassies are also close to the site of the bombing, but both buildings and their staff were not affected.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the bomb blast in Kabul and underlined the need for defeating forces supporting terrorism. Modi, 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.
The explosion sent clouds of black smoke spiralling over the centre of the city, damaging houses hundreds of metres away. Windows and doors were blown off their hinges.
No one has claimed responsibility for the blast but the Islamic State group has been involved in several recent bombings in the Afghan capital, including a powerful blast targeting an armoured NATO convoy that killed at least eight people and wounded 28 on May 3. Fingers are also being pointed at the Taliban that is stepping up their annual ‘spring offensive’. But The Taliban denied responsibility and said they condemned attacks that have no legitimate target and killed civilians.
The powerful bomb was hidden in a sewage tanker. Officials said all members of the Indian mission were safe. “By God’s grace, Indian embassy staff are safe in the massive #Kabul blast,” external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.
The bomb, one of the deadliest in Kabul and coming at the start of the holy month of Ramzan, exploded near the fortified entrance of the German embassy, killing an Afghan security guard and wounding some staff, foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel said.