Massive Suicide Car Bomb Explodes Near Afghan Supreme Court
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File photo. MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images(KABUL, Afghanistan) — More than a dozen people have been killed in a massive blast from a suicide car bomb in Kabul Tuesday.
The target appears to have been the Afghan Supreme Court, which is down the road from the U.S. Embassy. The bomber drove to the rear entrance of the courthouse and detonated the device. The back entrance is a very public and crowded residential area. Many of the victims were residents or court workers leaving for the day.
“This didn’t happen on the main road leading to the Afghan Supreme Court,” explained ABC’s Muhammad Lila from Kabul. “It happened at the back entrance and the back entrance is bordered by apartments, houses, where people were living and just living out their daily lives and going about their normal routines. So this has certainly shaken residents here in the city of Kabul.”
Since the area was so crowded at the time of the blast, the casualty count is expected to go up as the day progresses. Officials have confirmed between 14 to 16 fatalities and up to 40 have been injured. Many of the injured are in critical condition.
The U.S. Embassy is still under lockdown following the explosion.
No group has taken responsibility for the attack so far.
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