Eight killed in blast outside Russian embassy in Kabul: Sources

Two embassy workers amongst eight useless as suicide bomber detonates explosives close to the embassy’s entrance, safety sources inform Al Jazeera.

A boy who was wounded after a suicide bomber detonated explosives close to the doorway of the Russian embassy is handled at a hospital in Kabul [Ali Khara/Reuters]

At the very least eight individuals have been killed after a suicide bomber detonated explosives close to the doorway of the Russian embassy in Kabul, safety sources have informed Al Jazeera.

The useless embody two workers of the embassy, the Russian overseas ministry mentioned on Monday, in line with a report by the state-owned RIA Novosti information company.

“On account of the assault, two workers of the diplomatic mission had been killed, and there are additionally victims amongst Afghan residents,” the ministry mentioned. It didn't provide any particulars as to who the workers members had been or how they died.

Safety sources in Afghanistan say a suicide assault close to Russia’s embassy in Kabul has killed no less than 8 individuals ⤵️

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— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 5, 2022

Earlier, RIA Novosti, citing nameless sources, mentioned 15-20 individuals had been killed or wounded as a result of explosion which occurred when a Russian diplomat got here out to individuals ready exterior to name out the names of the candidates for a visa.

“It (blast) truly occurred near the embassy the place there was a crowd of individuals gathered to use for the Russian visa,” Kabul-based journalist Najib Lalzoy informed Al Jazeera.

Locals mentioned a lot of individuals had been current on the spot when the bomb exploded at round 10.50 am (0620 GMT) on Monday morning.

“The eyewitnesses near the Russian embassy say the casualties may very well be very excessive. A few of them say that even Russian diplomats are among the many useless. However it's but to be confirmed right here in Kabul,” Lalzoy informed Al Jazeera.

Police mentioned the attacker was shot useless by armed guards as he approached the embassy gate in Darul Aman space within the southwest of the Afghan capital.

“The suicide attacker, earlier than reaching the goal, was recognised and shot by Russian embassy (Taliban) guards,” Mawlawi Sabir, the top of the police district the place the assault befell, informed the Reuters information company.

Males wounded within the bombing being handled inside a hospital in Kabul [Ali Khara/Reuters]

There was no rapid declare of accountability for the explosion, the newest to strike the nation days after it marked a yr of Taliban seizing energy.

The Taliban authorities didn't instantly affirm the explosion or give any casualty figures.

Russia is without doubt one of the few international locations to have maintained an embassy in Kabul after the Taliban took over the nation greater than a yr in the past.

Though Moscow doesn't formally recognise the Taliban’s authorities, they've been in talks with officers over an settlement provide gasoline and different commodities.

In current weeks, the ISIL (ISIS) group has focused civilians in addition to non secular seminaries and mosques in Kabul and different elements of the nation.

Journalist Lalzoy mentioned the “surprising” suicide assault focused the civilians.

“It is vitally surprising as a result of the safety officers of Kabul consider the safety round Kabul may be very tight. And these form of locations like embassies are well-protected,” he informed Al Jazeera.

“Secondly, the explosion occurred the place the Afghans had been gathered. It appears the goal was to only kill harmless individuals.”