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At least 68 injured in car bomb explosion in Kabul - UPDATED

01 July 2019 10:56 (UTC +04:00)

The number of people injured in the heavy explosion that took place in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Monday morning has reached 68, Health Ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar stated, APA reports citing Sputnik

"Sixty-eight people, including eight children, have been injured in the blast in Kabul", he said.

A car bomb targeted the area of Puli Mahmood Khan, not far from a logistic supply compound belonging to the Afghan Defence Ministry. Several diplomatic and security departments are located in the area. The blast took place only a mile away from the presidential palace. According to eyewitnesses, the blast was followed by sporadic gunfire and other explosions.

Interior Ministry spokesman Nusrat Rahimi said there were two attackers, and that they had targeted the Defence Ministry's facilities.

At least three journalists from Shamshad TV were reportedly injured in the blast.Officials from the Afghanistan Football Federation also said that a number of their staff members and players received injuries, adding that their compound had been damaged.

No insurgency group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

The incident comes as Taliban-US peace talks have entered their third day in the Qatari capital of Doha.