KABUL: A powerful bomb hidden in a sewage tanker ripped through the centre of the Afghan capital last week, killing at least 90 and wounding hundred. While the victims appeared to be largely Afghan civilians, several embassy buildings were damaged in the event. One of the deadliest in Kabul, the bombing exploded extremely close to the fortified entrance of the German embassy and wounded several staff members. German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel said a Afghan security guard was killed and others were likely among the dead.
Afghanistan intelligence agency has blamed the Taliban-allied Haqqani Network for the attack. City police spokesman Basir Mujahid said that the explosives were hidden in a sewage truck, suggesting the German embassy might not have been the target of the blast. “There are several other important compounds and offices near there too,” he said. The Taliban has denied responsibility and said they condemned attacks that have no legitimate target and killed civilians. Unusually strong, the blast shattered windows and blew doors off their hinges in houses hundreds of metres away.
French, Turkish, and Chinese embassies were among those damaged. The three countries said there were no immediate signs of injuries among their diplomats. A US state department official said that nine Afghan guards at their embassy were killed and 11 American contractors wounded. An Afghan guard is missing.
Nato-led Resolute Support mission in Kabul said Afghan security forces prevented the vehicle carrying the bomb from entering the heavily protected Green Zone that houses many foreign embassies as well as its headquarters. A public health official said that at least 90 people had been killed and over 350 wounded. Meanwhile, there was an utter scene of chaos as the Wazir Akbar Khan hospital a couple of blocks away from the centre of the explosion, as ambulances brought in the wounded.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the blast on Twitter and said, “India stands with Afghanistan in fighting all types of terrorism. Forces supporting terrorism need to be defeated.” The Indian government issued a statement, calling the act as “heinous and reprehensible.” President Pranab Mukherjee sent a message to Afghan counterpart Mohammad Ashraf Ghani saying India strongly condemned the “cowardly act” and stood “in solidarity” with the Afghan people.
