At least seven killed in suicide attack at Afghan ministry

World
Europe

At least seven people were killed and more than 15 others were wounded after an explosion hit the western side of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan on Sunday, according to officials.

"Apparently a suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest at the gate of our ministry," said Fraidoon Azhand, a spokesman at the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development.

The attack occurred at around 4:30 pm local time (1200 GMT), said police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai, as staff members were leaving for the day.

Civilians and security forces were among the seven dead, but there were no foreign casualties, Stanikzai said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion and it is not certain whether the ministry was the target of the attack.

It is the second time in just over a month that the ministry has been caught up in a suicide attack.

On June 11 a bomber blew himself up as ministry workers queued for an early bus home during the holy month of Ramadan, killing at least 13 people and wounding 31. ISIL claimed responsibility for that attack.

4188km