Kabul blast leaves 23 children among 90 wounded in Afghanistan

Afghan health workers carry an injured man to the emergency hospital after a truck bomb blast targeted Green Village camp belong to foreigners in the capital Kabul, on January 14, 2019. EPA

At least 23 children are among the scores wounded after an explosion at a high-security rest and recovery compound in east Kabul killed four on Monday.

At least four were killed and over 90 thought to be wounded in the explosion in the 9th district of Kabul, Ministry of Interior Ministry Spokesman Najib Danish said in a tweet. But that number is expected to rise and at least four deaths have been reported.

"Most of the victims were civilians," said Mr Danish.

Until recently some United Nations’ staff had lived and worked at the highly secure compound, but Mr Danish said the area was now largely empty and “only a number of guards” were left.

“Residential houses nearby have sustained heavy damage,” Mr Danish said. “Special police forces’ units have been deployed to the site to check if there are more attackers.”

Hayat Khan was having dinner with his family at his home when the explosion shattered the windows.

"All of my family are wounded. They have received injuries on the head, hands, legs and on the neck," he said.

Mr Khan and his family were being treated at the Wazir Akbar Khan hospital.

The blast came as the Independent Election Commission announced preliminary results of the country's parliamentary elections.

Police spokesman Basir Mujahid said a vehicle full of explosives had been detonated. "The area is cordoned off ... and search operation underway for suspects and attackers," he said.

"It was a powerful car bomb that knocked [down] a wall between Green Village and the customs office," a security source said.

KABUL-ATTACK

An official at Kabul's Emergency Hospital said 15 wounded had been brought there, while a witnesses saw dozens of severely injured people being rushed to Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital from the blast site.

A senior Interior Ministry official said the explosion destroyed at least three checkpoints.

In Mr Danish’s tweet he said that

"Residential buildings nearby have sustained heavy damage and several private guards around the Green Village checkpoints were critically injured," the official said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing. Green Village has come under attack from militants in the past.

The Green Village is a retreat for NGO and foreign workers in the east of the capital city in an area that houses international companies and aid agency offices.  Tolo News reported. The Green Village houses a spa, business centre, restaurants and a gym.

The blast was heard across the city, followed by gunfire and emergency sirens.

A resident who lives close to the site of the explosion, but declined to give his name, said that their building had been "rocked damn good" by the blast. People on social media were sharing images of their buildings some distance from the explosion with smashed or cracked windows.

The election commission said on Monday that 24 male and nine female candidates were among those who have secured seats in parliament in preliminary results.

The October elections were marred by delays and technical difficulties as well as security concerns.

Afghans are due to go to the polls again this year in a presidential election where President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah will defend their record in ending the 17-year war with the Taliban.

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