Suicide truck blast kills at least 90

A MASSIVE suicide truck bomb has rocked a highly secure diplomatic area of Kabul, killing at least 90 people and wounding up to 350.

The attack left a scene of mayhem and destruction and sent a huge plume of smoke over the Afghan capital.

The target of the explosion in the Wazir Akbar Khan area was not immediately known, but Ismail Kawasi, spokesman for the public health ministry, said most of the casualties were civilians, including women and children.

It was one of the worst attacks Kabul has seen since the drawdown of foreign forces in 2014.

The bombing also raised serious questions about the Afghan government’s ability to secure the war-battered nation.

Images from the scene showed the German embassy and several others heavily damaged. Germany, Japan and Pakistan said some of their embassy employees were hurt in the explosion.

The explosion took place at the peak of Kabul’s rush hour, when roads are packed with commuters.

Najib Danish, deputy spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said the bomber detonated his truck filled with explosives close to a busy intersection, leaving a crater at least five metres deep.

The neighbourhood is considered Kabul’s safest area, with foreign embassies protected by dozens of 10ft blast walls and government offices, guarded by police and national security forces.