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Huge Explosion Near Afghan Presidential Palace Shakes Kabul Huge Explosion Near Afghan Presidential Palace Shakes Kabul
(about 1 hour later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — A huge explosion near the Afghan presidential palace early Wednesday caused panic in much of central Kabul, with windows blown out of buildings across a wide radius. An official said dozens of people had been killed or wounded. KABUL, Afghanistan — A huge explosion near the Afghan presidential palace early Wednesday killed at least 49 people and wounded hundreds, a toll that seemed certain to rise. The blast caused panic in much of central Kabul, shattering windows as far as a mile away.
The exact nature of the blast near Zanbaq Square, a crowded area in the Afghan capital that leads to the presidential palace as well as major foreign embassies, was not immediately clear. The exact nature of the blast near Zanbaq Square, a crowded area in the Afghan capital that leads to the presidential palace as well as major foreign embassies, was not immediately clear. Nearly two hours after the explosion, plumes of smoke were still rising from the scene as ambulances shuttled to hospitals. Dozens of people waited outside the large security cordon for news of their loved ones.
Najib Danish, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said emergency personnel had removed 50 dead or wounded from the scene of the blast so far. Wahidullah Majrooh, a spokesman for the Health Ministry, said 49 dead and 320 wounded had been brought to hospitals so far.
Pictures from the scene showed smoke and chaos, with bloodied people lying around as emergency personnel tried to evacuate victims. The area was cordoned off, and there was a heavy security presence, including forces from the United States-led coalition. Helicopters circled overhead. Pictures from the scene showed smoke and chaos, with bloodied people lying around as emergency personnel tried to evacuate victims. There was a heavy security presence, including forces from the United States-led coalition. Helicopters circled overhead.
Shopkeepers as far as a mile from the scene were seen sweeping glass from windows, as parents arrived to escort panicking children home from school. Shopkeepers as far as a mile from the scene were seen sweeping glass from shattered windows, as parents arrived to escort panicking children home from school.
“There was a big tremble, and then we heard a massive explosion,” said Ramin Sangar, a cameraman at a television channel near the site of the explosion, as he was loaded into an ambulance. “All the windows are broken. Our studios collapsed.”