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Kabul rocked by explosion as Taliban begin spring offensive Kabul hit by deadly explosion as Taliban begins spring offensive
(35 minutes later)
Several people have been killed and dozens injured after a Taliban car bomb exploded in central Kabul early on Tuesday, targeting a crowded area home to ministries and government offices, followed by gun battles between attackers and security forces. Several people have been killed and scores injured after a Taliban car bomb exploded in a crowded area of Kabul near ministries and government offices, and a gun battle ensued between attackers and security forces.
Related: Taliban announce start of spring offensive in AfghanistanRelated: Taliban announce start of spring offensive in Afghanistan
The blast took place shortly before 9am local time, during the morning rush hour, when a car laden with explosives went off outside the office of a security detail responsible for protecting Afghan government VIPs and officials, according to police sources. The heavily laden car exploded shortly before 9am local time outside the office of a security detail responsible for protecting Afghan government VIPs and officials, according to police sources.
The explosion ripped through the city, rattling windows several kilometres away, and was followed by gunfire as attackers took cover in nearby buildings. The blast ripped through the city, rattling windows several miles away, and was followed by gunfire as attackers took cover in nearby buildings.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the militant group claimed responsibility for the attack. The Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.
The tally of casualties was not yet clear, but a spokesman for the ministry of public health, Ismail Kawusi, told the Guardian that 161 injured people had been brought to five or six hospitals in the city. He did not know how many of them were civilians. Reuters cited the health ministry saying at least 200 people were wounded, and “several” had been killed. The tally of casualties was not yet clear, but a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health, Ismail Kawusi, told the Guardian that 208 injured people had been admitted to public hospitals. He did not know how many of them were civilians, and did not know how many were dead. Reuters cited the ministry as saying “several” had been killed.
Emergency, an Italian-run hospital for war wounded in Kabul, said it had so far received 18 casualties, most of them security forces, and most lightly injured. Luca Radaelli, Emergency’s medical coordinator, said numbers could rise because evacuating victims was difficult as long as fighting in the area was on-going. Emergency, an Italian-run hospital for war wounded in Kabul, said it had received 18 casualties, most of them members of the security forces, and most lightly injured. Luca Radaelli, Emergency’s medical coordinator, said numbers could rise because it was difficult to evacuate victims while the fighting continued.
In a statement, the Presidential Palace said: “President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani condemned the terrorist attack in Pule Mahmood Khan area, Kabul, which martyred and injured a number of Afghan innocent civilians, in strongest terms.”In a statement, the Presidential Palace said: “President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani condemned the terrorist attack in Pule Mahmood Khan area, Kabul, which martyred and injured a number of Afghan innocent civilians, in strongest terms.”
The attack comes after the Taliban last week announced the beginning of its annual spring offensive. The Afghan government, backed by its international allies, has for months tried to convince the insurgents to restart peace talks, but so far to no avail. Last week the Taliban announced the beginning of its annual spring offensive. The Afghan government, backed by its international allies, has for months tried to convince the insurgents to restart peace talks, but so far to no avail.
While the spring fighting season normally heralds intensified attacks across the country, the past winter was unusually violent, with sustained Taliban offensives around the country and several attacks on the capital. While the spring fighting season normally heralds intensified attacks across the country, winter was unusually violent, with sustained Taliban offensives around the country and several attacks on the capital.
In January, the Taliban attacked a restaurant in Kabul frequented by foreigners and affluent Afghans, killing a guard and a 12-year-old boy. Later that month, the militant group killed seven employees of TOLO TV in an attack on one of the media group’s buses.In January, the Taliban attacked a restaurant in Kabul frequented by foreigners and affluent Afghans, killing a guard and a 12-year-old boy. Later that month, the militant group killed seven employees of TOLO TV in an attack on one of the media group’s buses.
On Sunday, the UN released a report documenting a slight increase in civilian casualties in the first three months of 2016, compared with the same period last year.On Sunday, the UN released a report documenting a slight increase in civilian casualties in the first three months of 2016, compared with the same period last year.
The report also showed that while the Taliban have scaled down their use of improvised explosive devices and targeted killings, the militants increasingly resort to complex and suicide attacks in populated areas, like the attack on Tuesday morning. The report also showed that while the Taliban have scaled down their use of improvised explosive devices and targeted killings, the militants are increasingly using complex and suicide attacks in populated areas.