Bombing death toll rises as Afghanistan has day of mourning

Afghan authorities have raised the death toll from Saturday’s suicide bombing in Kabul to 103 people as hundreds gathered for funerals or awaited word of loved ones outside hospitals and morgues.

The attacker, driving an ambulance filled with explosives, was able to race through a security checkpoint by saying he was transferring a patient to a hospital.

The explosion damaged or destroyed dozens of shops and vehicles in the heart of the city. The attack was carried out near government buildings.

Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak provided the updated death toll yesterday.

He said another 235 people were wounded in the attack.

Mr Barmak said police were among those killed and wounded. The attackers drove two ambulances, both of which made it past the checkpoint before one of them turned around and left the area. Mr Barmak indicated some of the attackers escaped.

Thetalebanclaimedresponsibility for the attack, which dealt a major blow to the Usbacked Afghan government. Afghan security forces have struggled to combat the Taleban since the US and NATO formally ended their combat mission at the end of 2014.

Saturday’s bombing took place in the heavily-guarded city centre near a number of foreign embassies and the office of the High Peace Council.

The council is charged with promoting peace efforts with the Taleban and other groups. The Interior Ministry, which is in charge of the police, also has offices in the area.

Ahmad Fahim, a shopkeeper who survived Saturday’s attack, said several fellow merchants were wounded or killed. He said he had seen many victims who lost arms or legs in the blast.

The government declared a day of mourning, with shops closed and flags at half-mast.

Officials at the Public Health Ministry said the forensic medicine department was still trying to identify a number of bodies before releasing them to families.

The powerful explosion could be felt across the city and left the surrounding area blanketed in dust and smoke.

It came a week after Taleban militants stormed a luxury hotel in Kabul, killing 22 people, including 14 foreigners, and setting off a 13-hour battle with security forces.

Masoom Stanekzai, the head of Afghanistan’s intelligence service, said five suspects had been arrested for their involvement in the attack on the Intercontinental Hotel, with another having fled the country. He said four people had been arrested in connection with Saturday’s attack.