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Twin explosions took place near the Afghan parliament in Kabul on Tuesday, the interior ministry said, with casualties feared in the latest attack to rock the Afghan capital. At least one of the blasts was apparently caused by a car bomb, ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.
“They targeted employees of parliament, there have been casualties,” a second security source said. According to TOLO News, early reports indicate it was in PD6 along Darulaman Road in Kabul. Another attack was followed immediately by a car bomber in an apparently coordinated operation in the same area.
Sediqqi said there were casualties but that exact numbers remained unclear. Public health ministry spokesman Ismail Kawasi only confirmed (to The Associated Press) that three wounded civilians were brought to hospital. Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the Kabul attacks.
The explosion reportedly happened close to the American University and Noor hospital on Darulaman Road.
According to some MPs, a female MP from Herat is among the injured. The government has still not released details on casualties in the twin blast. TOLO News reported that eyewitnesses have indicated that the toll of dead could be as high as 50. Ministry of health also confirmed that at least 40 have been wounded so far in Kabul. The explosions targeted convoy of officials leaving the Afghan Parliament offices.
Earlier in the day, a suicide bomber on foot struck in southern Helmand province, killing at least seven people, said General Agha Noor Kemtoz, the provincial police chief. The target of the attack was a guesthouse used by a provincial intelligence official in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand, said Kemtoz.
Those killed include civilian and military personnel, and six others were wounded in the attack, Kemtoz added. A car full of explosives was found nearby.
No one claimed responsibility for the Helmand attack but the Taliban frequently use use suicide attacks or roadside bombs to target government officials and Afghan security forces across the country.
First Post With inputs from AFP