Update: April 20, 2016, 2:47 p.m. IST — The toll in the attack in central Kabul on Tuesday by the Taliban rose to 64 on Wednesday, with the number of injured being pegged at 347, TOLO News quoted the Interior Ministry as saying on Wednesday.
Update: 2:44 p.m. IST — The toll in Tuesday's bombing in central Kabul has been revised by Agence France Presse to 28 from the earlier seven.
Update: 2:06 p.m. IST — An ongoing Taliban attack killed at least seven people and injuerd 327 in central Kabul on Tuesday, the Afghan health ministry was quoted as saying by Agence France Presse.
"Many of those wounded are in serious condition," ministry spokesman Mohammad Ismail Kawoosi told AFP.
Earlier reports had said more than 20 people had been killed in the attack, which targeted a secret service unit in an area in the city where the Afghan defence ministry, U.S. embassy and other ministerial and security agencies were located.
Update: 11:54 a.m. IST — At least 161 people were injured — besides the more than 20 killed — in a blast in central Kabul's Pul-e-Mahmood Khan area near the U.S. embassy on Tuesday after a suicide bombing by the Taliban, officials from Public Health Ministry told TOLO News.
Update: 11:28 a.m IST — The toll in Tuesday's bombing in central Kabul has been revised by TOLO News to "more than 20" from the earlier number of 24. The news channel also said on Twitter the blast was caused by a vehicle laden with explosives being detonated by a Talibani suicide bomber outside the Afghan secret service agency in Pul-e-Mahmood Khan area in central Kabul, and that a gun battle was underway in the area.
President Ashraf Ghani condemned the bomb attack near the U.S. embassy and several other government buildings, calling it a terrorist attack. The Guardian quoted Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid as saying the jihadist group was responsible for the attack. The terrorist group had announced last week the beginning of its "spring offensive."
The government had been attempting to begin peace talks with the Taliban.
Original Story — At least 24 people were killed and several injured in a suicide bombing in central Kabul on Tuesday, TOLO News quoted the officials as saying.
Earlier, loud explosion was heard in central Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, and smoke was seen rising from an area close to government buildings and security agencies, Reuters reported. The U.S. embassy and the NATO mission are also in the vicinity.
Taliban had announced last week that it would begin its spring offensive soon. However, no terrorist organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack as yet.
Warning signals and gunfire were also heard after the explosion, Reuters reported. The police also confirmed gunfire in the area.
This is a developing story.
