Suicide bombing near Foreign Ministry in Kabul kills 6

A suicide bombing near the Foreign Ministry in Kabul city claimed at least six civilian lives and injured a number of others, Afghan police reported on Monday.

Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said in a statement that the suicide bomber was shot near a security checkpoint in the city’s police district two before he could reach his destination.

As a result, up to six civilians were killed and a number of others, including three members of the security forces, were injured, according to the official, who did not specify how many were injured.

According to the Italian non-governmental organisation Hospital Emergency, 12 injured patients, including a child, were brought to the hospital after the blast, and two others were already dead when they arrived.

The blast occurred at midday in the city centre during Kabul’s rush hour, as government employees were ending their working day early due to Ramadan.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

When the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, the so-called Islamic State group intensified its attacks in Afghanistan.

It’s mainly targeting religious minorities, members of the Taliban and areas where foreign diplomats live.

In mid-January, Islamic State claimed responsibility for an explosion outside the Afghan Foreign Ministry that killed and wounded dozens of people including ministry employees.

Afghanistan has become increasingly isolated from the West due to the Taliban’s draconian policies towards women, their disregard for human rights and their refusal to form a representative government. (dpa/NAN)