Kabul blasts: 10 Indians among 17 dead

Kabul, Feb 26: In the latest update on the Kabul blast, 10 Indians out of 17 have been reported dead.

Kabul blasts: 4 Indians killed

In a fresh series of explosions that rocked a hotel in Kabul on Friday, Feb 26, at least fourteen people, including four Indians were nationals were killed, media report said.

A guesthouse for Indians, next to a shopping complex was reportedly one of the targets in the blasts.

According to Abdul Ghavar Sayedzadar, a senior police official, the blasts took place at the City Centre shopping complex and the Safi Landmark hotel, about 300 metres from the interior ministry.

"Two police officers were martyred," Sayedzadar said.

A policeman who saw the four bodies being take from the guest house said that he could not confirm whether the victims were Indians or Afghans.

However, media reports identified the bodies as that of Indians.

Briefing on the nature of the explosives used, a policeman who cited anonymity said that several hand grenades were used in the blasts that damaged two guest houses and a hotel.

He added that the attacks were carried out by at least two suicide bombers.

Confirming the blasts, an interior ministry spokesman said, "The area is under control of the police, and police are searching for the attackers."

Meanwhile, Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attacks.

"Our mujahidi (holy warrior) fighters managed to attack in the heart of Kabul city once again," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a news agency report from an undisclosed location.

The attack on the Safi Landmark hotel at the top floor of the shopping centre, which is located in the central, most fortified part of Kabul took place just over a month after the Taliban fighters attacked government facilities on Jan 18.

12 people and seven Taliban were killed in standoff, which took place just yards away from the building where President Hamid Karzai was swearing in cabinet members.

OneIndia News