KABUL: At least three people were killed and seven other sustained injuries after a powerful blast followed by sporadic gunfire hit Afghanistan’s capital Kabul on Tuesday evening near the city’s heavily fortified “Green Zone”, an area home to government buildings and foreign embassies.
Ghulam Dastagir Nazari, a health ministry spokesperson, has confirmed that at least three people were killed and seven wounded, adding that clashes were continuing.
A senior security official said the blast appeared to have been caused by a car bomb and the apparent target was the residence of a member of parliament. “Two gunmen were still in the area and clashing with Afghan security forces”, the official said.
In a Tweet, the city’s Emergency Hospital said it had so far received six people wounded in the attack. No group immediately claimed responsibility.
????#Kabul #Afghanistan Large explosion at Bakhtawar Palace, not far from our hospital, and an armed clash ongoing. We have received 6 patients so far.
— EMERGENCY (English) (@emergency_ngo) August 3, 2021
Meanwhile, an international news agency reported that a second loud blast followed by rapid gunfire rocked Kabul, less than two hours after the first explosion. The second blast was also followed by some smaller explosions in a central part of the city.
Minutes after the blast hundreds of civilians in Kabul came out on to the streets to express their support for Afghan government forces and opposition to the Taliban.
Last week residents in western Herat braved the streets despite nearby fighting to protest against the Taliban. Other cities quickly organised to join the chant from their homes in the evenings, as a message of support for embattled security forces.
Clashes between Afghan forces and the Taliban have intensified across the country with the group gaining control over check points, trading posts and infrastructure projects.
Afghan forces appealed to residents of the southern city of Lashkargah to leave their homes and stay away from areas where the Taliban were taking control, as they intend to launch operations against the group.
