KABUL – A powerful explosion has occurred in the centre of the Afghancapital of Kabul, local media reported Wednesday.
The blast took place in the Shahr-e-Naw area of the city, as confirmedto AFP by Ferdaws Framurz, a spokesman for the city’s police force.
Meanwhile, Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi has said the explosiontook place near the offices of CARE International, an NGO with operationsin Afghanistan.
“We don’t know the nature of the explosion yet but small arms firing hasalso been heard in the area”, Rahimi added.
The nation’s Health Ministry has reported that at least 12 people sustainedinjuries in the Kabul blast.
“At least 12 wounded have been taken to hospitals following the blastin Kabul”, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health Wahidullah Mayarsaid.
The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to thegroup’s spokesman.
Afghanistan is suffering from an unstable political, social and securitysituation due to the activity of the Taliban and Islamic State terroristgroup (banned in Russia). The Afghan National Defence and Security Forcesare currently conducting joint offensive operations to combat terrorismacross the country with support from an international coalition.