53 people wounded as powerful bomb blast rocks Kabul

SANAA, July 1 (YPA) – A powerful bomb blast rocked the Afghan capital early Monday, wounding at least 53 people, officials and a medic said.

Mohammad Karim, a police official in the area of the attack, said a car bomb exploded outside a Defense Ministry building.

Militants then ran into a nearby high-rise located in a crowded market and began firing down on the ministry. Police and special Afghan security forces were swarming the area and cordoned it off.

Kabul’s chief police spokesman, Firdous Faramaz, could only confirm the explosion, but was unclear on the target or the type of explosive device. Ambulance workers said at least 53 people were wounded.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, and police said they did not yet know the target or nature of the blast.

E.M