An explosion thundered in the center of Kabul, Afghanistan, Reuters reported. The witnesses said that a thick plume of smoke could be seen rising from near the US embassy. Warning sirens also have been reported from the compound.
The US embassy and NATO headquarters said they were not affected by the explosion, the agency reported.
Ghani said the explosion targeted the offices of the country's main security agency. According to TOLOnews, the blast took place in the Pul-e-Mahmood Khan area of the city, where the Ministry of Defense is located.
According to local witnesses, gunshots were heard near the area after the explosion happened.
explosion heard in #kabul.Suicide bomber targeted NDS https://t.co/HjJwoIqwCG reports #Afghanistan @KhyberNews pic.twitter.com/18qTRyJXIf
— Fayaz Ahmad (@fayazkhyber) 19 апреля 2016 г.
Huge explosion in #Kabul near US embassy area pic.twitter.com/skb3qya1LU
— manoj gupta (@Manojkewl) 19 апреля 2016 г.
Kabul police are currently investigating what could have caused the explosion. Nobody has claimed responsibility as of yet.
Afghanistan is experiencing political, social and security instability, as the Taliban Islamic movement and other radical extremist organizations such as Daesh militant group, prohibited in many countries, including the United States and Russia, continue staging attacks against civilian and state targets, seeking to establish the rule of Sharia law in the country.