2 civilians killed as car bomber targets foreigners

KABUL): Two civilians were killed and at least four others sustained injuries late on Friday when a suicide bomber in a car detonated his explosives outside a compound housing many foreign workers, officials said.

The blast took place in the central capital city’s 9th police district on the Jalalabad Road near the Kabul Airport at around 5pm.

Kabul police chief Brig. Gen. Mohammad Zahir told Pajhwok Afghan News the attacker crashed his explosives-laden car against a vehicle carrying foreigners outside the compound “Green Village.”

He had no information about casualties among the foreigners, but said some civilians had been killed and wounded in the suicide attack.

Interior Ministry spokesman Siddique Siddiqui said two civilians, including a woman, were killed and three others, including a child and two women sustained injuries in the bombing.

A foreigner based at the Green Village, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Pajhwok the attacker blew up the car at the compound’s gate.

He said foreigners escaped suffering many casualties because they were supposed to leave the office earlier, but remained in the building and got late. “If we had left the office on the stipulated time, many could have suffered casualties.”

The Interior Ministry said a small car packed with explosives hit two vehicles as they were exiting the Green Village compound. At least four other civilians were also injured.

ISAF-led force said in a statement.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the strike at the fortified residential complex not far from Kabul airport in the east of the city.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said suicide attacks were carried out against a foreign military base and a convoy, inflicting heavy casualties on foreigners.

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