Loud explosions in Afghan capital Kabul
Source: BBC NEWS | |
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. |
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