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| Car Bomb Explodes Outside Afghan Agency | Car Bomb Explodes Outside Afghan Agency |
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| KABUL, Afghanistan — Suicide bombers riding in minivans struck the headquarters of the Afghan intelligence agency on Wednesday, detonating a powerful car bomb and raising questions about how insurgents could pull off such a bold attack in one of the most heavily guarded areas of the city. | KABUL, Afghanistan — Suicide bombers riding in minivans struck the headquarters of the Afghan intelligence agency on Wednesday, detonating a powerful car bomb and raising questions about how insurgents could pull off such a bold attack in one of the most heavily guarded areas of the city. |
| The explosion went off around noon at one of the gates of the agency, the National Directorate of Security, and could be heard for miles around the site. The attack, which was followed by sporadic gunfire, is believed to have claimed several lives and left dozens injured, though officials did not immediately confirm any numbers. Injured victims were seen staggering down the street, many covered in blood. | |
| Sadiq Sadiqi, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said six insurgents mounted the attack from minibuses. A single insurgent in the first bus detonated it in front of the agency’s gate. The second vehicle, which contained five armed fighters, was stopped by guards at the gate before it could be detonated, and all the insurgents were killed, Mr. Sadiqi said. | |
| The Taliban later claimed responsibility for the attack. | The Taliban later claimed responsibility for the attack. |
| “We targeted a very important N.D.S. installation in Kabul in the heart of the city, while foreign advisers where there,” Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said from an undisclosed location. | |
| The attack came as coalition forces speed up the pace of handing over security to Afghan forces. The United States has promised to withdraw its combat forces by 2014, a deadline that has left many Afghans worried about the security situation. | The attack came as coalition forces speed up the pace of handing over security to Afghan forces. The United States has promised to withdraw its combat forces by 2014, a deadline that has left many Afghans worried about the security situation. |
| Wednesday’s bombing underscored those fears, though the government highlighted its quick response to the attack and its success at preventing the second suicide team from claiming more lives. | |
| While Kabul is considered far safer than elsewhere in the south and east of the country, attacks aimed at undermining confidence in the government’s ability to defend itself have been a familiar reality here. | While Kabul is considered far safer than elsewhere in the south and east of the country, attacks aimed at undermining confidence in the government’s ability to defend itself have been a familiar reality here. |
| The site of the blast is near the road leading to the Interior Ministry building and several embassies and government agencies. | |
| After the attack, security officers patrolled the abandoned street in front of the intelligence agency. The area was sealed half an hour after the blast, with security officers preventing almost everyone — including Afghan police officers — from getting near the site. | |
| The blast sent glass and metal spewing out onto the sidewalk from nearby computer and stationery stores, with damage as far as 150 yards from the site of the explosion. | |
| Qais Noori, 19, a shopkeeper, said the blast all but destroyed the small shop where he works. | Qais Noori, 19, a shopkeeper, said the blast all but destroyed the small shop where he works. |
| “I was in the shop when suddenly I heard a massive explosion and the roof collapsed,” he said, blood covering the left side of his face. “The owner told us all to go home.” | “I was in the shop when suddenly I heard a massive explosion and the roof collapsed,” he said, blood covering the left side of his face. “The owner told us all to go home.” |
| Mohammad Zaqi, 15, was also in his shop when the bomb went off. | Mohammad Zaqi, 15, was also in his shop when the bomb went off. |
| “What else would I feel but insecure?” he asked, a stream of dried blood over his eye. “Who are these attackers and why are they killing innocent people?” | “What else would I feel but insecure?” he asked, a stream of dried blood over his eye. “Who are these attackers and why are they killing innocent people?” |
Sangar Rahimi contributed reporting. | Sangar Rahimi contributed reporting. |