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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Explosions shake Afghan capital | Explosions shake Afghan capital |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Two explosions and the sound of gunfire have been heard in the centre of the Afghan capital, Kabul, reports say. | Two explosions and the sound of gunfire have been heard in the centre of the Afghan capital, Kabul, reports say. |
| The cause is not yet known, but reports point to at least one major blast. | The cause is not yet known, but reports point to at least one major blast. |
| Kabul has been the target of infrequent but often extremely deadly insurgent attacks, but has been relatively quiet for the past month. | Kabul has been the target of infrequent but often extremely deadly insurgent attacks, but has been relatively quiet for the past month. |
| On 18 January, Taliban bombers and gunmen attacked government targets and shopping malls in the centre of the city, killing 11 people. | On 18 January, Taliban bombers and gunmen attacked government targets and shopping malls in the centre of the city, killing 11 people. |
| The BBC's Martin Patience, in Kabul, says the blast happened at 0630 local time (0200 GMT) close to a large shopping centre. | The BBC's Martin Patience, in Kabul, says the blast happened at 0630 local time (0200 GMT) close to a large shopping centre. |
| It is not known if there are casualties. | It is not known if there are casualties. |
| Kabul police official Abdul Ghafor Sayedzada said the two explosions had happened near the nine-storey Kabul City Center shopping area, close to the Safi Landmark Hotel, the Associated Press reported. | Kabul police official Abdul Ghafor Sayedzada said the two explosions had happened near the nine-storey Kabul City Center shopping area, close to the Safi Landmark Hotel, the Associated Press reported. |
| A building in front of the hotel had caught fire, he said. | A building in front of the hotel had caught fire, he said. |
| Although the shopping centre is in the heart of Kabul, our correspondent says the timing of the explosion - in the morning at the start of what is effectively the Afghan weekend - meant few people were likely to be in the area. | Although the shopping centre is in the heart of Kabul, our correspondent says the timing of the explosion - in the morning at the start of what is effectively the Afghan weekend - meant few people were likely to be in the area. |
| The explosions come as Nato and Afghan forces continue Operation Moshtarak, driving Taliban fighters from their strongholds in Helmand province, in the south of Afghanistan. | |
| Are you in the area? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: | Are you in the area? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |