Kabul [Afganistan], January 14: Five civilians were killed and an unidentified number of others wounded in an explosion on Wednesday outside the Afghan Foreign Ministry in Kabul, according to the ruling Taliban, although other sources gave a significantly higher death toll.
The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack on its channels online, saying one of its fighters had advanced to the ministry and detonated an explosive belt near security forces there.
At least 20 people were killed, including diplomats, according to the group.
The EU's top diplomat, JosepBorrell, also spoke of at least 20 casualties when condemning the attack on Twitter.
Afghan media quoting other sources reported that up to 20 people were killed and as many as 26 others were wounded in the attack. The Italian non-governmental organization Emergency reported to have received more than 40 injured people at its hospital, located near the ministry, following the explosion.
A picture of the incident showed several bodies lying on the street at the blast scene. A video from local broadcaster TOLOnews shows dozens of people looking to find out the names of their loved ones from a list hung behind the hospital's emergency department.
The Taliban authorities condemned the powerful blast as a cowardly attack and vowed to find and punish the perpetrators behind it.
"The EU condemns this attack in the strongest terms," Borrell wrote on Twitter. "Such violence only adds to the immense hardship the Afghan people have to endure on a daily basis."
The United Nations diplomatic mission in the country as well as former Afghan president Hamid Karzai also condemned the attack.
Just 10 days ago, Islamic State claimed responsibility for a bombing at the gate of the Kabul Military Airport that killed and wounded several people.
Following the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, the Islamic State group has intensified its attacks in Afghanistan, mainly targeting religious minorities, Taliban members as well as foreign diplomatic centres.
Source: Qatar Tribune
