Suicide Bomb in Kabul Afghanistan Targets Indian Embassy

"A suicide car bombing right outside the embassy, the car was parked outside. They say that there are scores of casualties" -Zeina Khodr, Al Jazeera in Kabul

Tattered Afghan flag flying in the Pesh Valley Salem-News.com photo by Tim King

(KABUL) - A huge explosion rocked Kabul, Afghanistan just after 8:30 a.m. Thursday. The blast in the Afghan capital near the Indian embassy left 12 dead and injured at least 83 more, according to Al Jazeera.

A senior diplomat with the Indian embassy confirmed that it was the target.

Interior Ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary, said, "It was a suicide car bomb attack. There are civilian and police casualties."

The word on Twitter was that the bomb sounded louder than anything that has been heard in Kabul in some time. It was also reported that a car with a UN insignia was badly damaged, along with another car.

The explosion reportedly shattered windows in Kabul homes and shops close to the blast area.

Zeina Khodr with Al Jazeera in Kabul, said: "Intelligence officials are telling us the target was the Indian embassy."

"A suicide car bombing right outside the embassy, the car was parked outside. They say that there are scores of casualties."

"Intelligence officials are saying that they do not believe that the bombing was the work of, I quote, a group of bandits, but organised by a state."

The Indian embassy is across the street from the Afghan Interior Ministry. While this explosion is severe, it is still one of many that has blasted Kabul.in recent years and months Suicide bombings and roadside bombs or improvised explosive devices are the unusual tactics.

The Indian Embassy was attacked in July 2008,

Dozens of people were killed in an attack on the Indian Embassy in July 2008, since which time the access road has been barricaded.

Special thanks to: According to Aljazeera.net