World | Afghanistan
Explosion rocks Afghan capital, casualties reported
A suicide bomber blew himself up inside the Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture in Kabul on Thursday, killing at least three people and badly damaging part of the building, officials and witnesses said. The Taliban claimed responsibility
- AP
- Published: 11:45 October 30, 2008
Kabul: A suicide bomber blew himself up inside the Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture in Kabul on Thursday, killing at least three people and badly damaging part of the building, officials and witnesses said. The Taliban claimed responsibility.
The bomber shot two policemen outside the ministry building before entering the large hall inside where he blew himself up, said Abdul Jabar, a security guard near the building.
At least three people were killed in the attack, said Ali Shah Ahmadzai, Kabul's deputy police chief. Another 12 people were wounded in the explosion, said Abdul Fahim, the spokesman for the health ministry, which supervises the hospitals where the injured were taken.
The Taliban gave a different version of events. Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said three militants stormed the building by throwing hand grenades at the guards at the main gate.
A man named Naqibullah from the eastern Khost province carried out the suicide attack, Mujahid told The Associated Press. The other two men fled, he said.
One of the side walls of the building collapsed, while glass littered the roads nearby and office equipment was scattered over the area. The blue metal gates in the ministry entrance were twisted from flung open.
An Associated Press reporter at the scene said the hall inside the ministry, belonging to the press department, was destroyed.
Ministry workers were helped out of the building by security personnel. Ambulances carried the wounded to hospitals.
The ministry building is in the centre of the city, at a busy intersection lined with shops.
Afghanistan
Afghan child labour may rise as aid dried up
People smugglers
Rebels 'to retake Kabul after Nato withdrawal'
Afghan woman killed for giving birth to girl
Afghan woman killed, apparently for bearing girl
Britain sticks to 2014 pull-out
It's a new start for Afghanistan
Afghans hit by rising food prices
More from World
News Editor's choice
-
6,000 cups and counting: Addicted to that tea
This cafeteria in Al Mamzar attracts thousands of customers daily, including the rich and not so rich
-
Swimming pool horror: Twins hospitalised
Twins rushed to hospital after collapsing from chlorine inhalation at swimming pool in their villa
-
Play your cards right with credit card interest
UAE Central Bank plans to cap interest rates, but are you paying thirty-five per cent now?
