A huge explosion hit near foreign embassies in Afghan capital Kabul on Wednesday morning (May 31), killing at least 20 people and injuring 300 others, reports CNN quoting Afghan officials.
In addition to the fatalities, 300 others were injured, said sources from the health ministry of Afghanistan.
A towering plume of smoke rose over the Afghan capital as emergency vehicles sped toward it. Soldiers in fatigues stood with guns drawn -- the sounds of screams, blaring sirens and traffic piercing the morning sky.
Bystanders lifted wounded people from the back of cars as others hovered nearby as if in a daze, blood streaming down their faces. Mangled, burning cars stood nearby.
The blast was caused by a suicide attack, according to Najib Danish, a spokesman for the interior ministry of the country.
It hit about 400 yards from the German Embassy, and was in a water delivery truck, according to journalist Jennifer Glasse.
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said the attack was in the "immediate vicinity" of the nation's embassy.
"The attack was aimed at civilians and those who are in Afghanistan to work with the people there for a better future of the country," Gabriel said.
"In the attack, officials of the German embassy were also injured. In the meantime, all employees are safe", he said.
Glasse said the Afghan presidential palace and the Indian Embassy are also nearby.
"By God's grace, Indian Embassy staff are safe in the massive Kabul blast," India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.
The US Embassy said "a large vehicle borne improvised explosive device" detonated near the southern edge of the diplomatic area.
"The US Embassy does not appear to have been the target of the blast," a spokesperson said, and referred questions on casualties to the Afghanistan government.
This month, another attack targeted a convoy of foreign troops near the US Embassy in Kabul, killing eight people. ISIS claimed responsibility for that attack.
However, there was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the attack came as the resurgent Taliban are stepping up their annual “spring offensive”.
BDST: 1534 HRS, MAY 31, 2017
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