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| Bomb rocks India embassy in Kabul | Bomb rocks India embassy in Kabul |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| A suicide bomber has rammed a car full of explosives into the gates of the Indian embassy in the Afghan capital, killing 41 people, officials say. | A suicide bomber has rammed a car full of explosives into the gates of the Indian embassy in the Afghan capital, killing 41 people, officials say. |
| More than 140 were injured, including civilians and security forces. | |
| Defence attache Brig R Mehta, a senior Indian diplomat and two Indian security guards were among those killed. | |
| No-one has admitted being behind the attack, one of the deadliest in Kabul for some time. The Taleban have vowed to step up their attacks in Kabul. | |
| President Hamid Karzai said the attackers wanted to undermine good relations between Afghanistan and India. | President Hamid Karzai said the attackers wanted to undermine good relations between Afghanistan and India. |
| India also condemned the "cowardly terrorists' attack". The US condemned the "needless act of violence", as did the European Union, which described it as a "terrorist attack targeting innocent civilians". | India also condemned the "cowardly terrorists' attack". The US condemned the "needless act of violence", as did the European Union, which described it as a "terrorist attack targeting innocent civilians". |
| Afghanistan has seen a sharp increase in violence in the south and east. | Afghanistan has seen a sharp increase in violence in the south and east. |
| People shocked | |
| The bomb exploded as people were queuing for visas at the embassy. | The bomb exploded as people were queuing for visas at the embassy. |
| "I saw glass falling down from buildings, before the area was crowded with ambulances, police and forces of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf)", Abdul Raziq, who was distributing newspapers at the time, told the BBC. | "I saw glass falling down from buildings, before the area was crowded with ambulances, police and forces of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf)", Abdul Raziq, who was distributing newspapers at the time, told the BBC. |
| Ali Hassan Fahimi said shrapnel had landed into his office, which is close to the site of the blast. | Ali Hassan Fahimi said shrapnel had landed into his office, which is close to the site of the blast. |
| "It was so strong... and our staff were shocked," he said. | "It was so strong... and our staff were shocked," he said. |
| Among those killed in the attack were five Afghan security guards at Indonesia's Kabul embassy. | |
| Officials in Jakarta said they did not believe they were targeted, but it was simply because the two embassies were close to each other. | Officials in Jakarta said they did not believe they were targeted, but it was simply because the two embassies were close to each other. |
| India has close relations with Afghanistan. It has been funding a number of large infrastructure projects, correspondents say. | India has close relations with Afghanistan. It has been funding a number of large infrastructure projects, correspondents say. |
| Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta visited the Indian embassy shortly after the attack, his spokesman Sultan Ahmed Baheen said. | Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta visited the Indian embassy shortly after the attack, his spokesman Sultan Ahmed Baheen said. |
| RECENT ATTACKS IN KABUL April 2008: Gun attack on parade attended by President KarzaiMarch 2008: Six people die in car bomb attack on coalition convoyJan 2008: Six people killed in Taleban attack on Serena hotelDec 2007: At least 13 people killed in a suicide car bombingSept 2007: Suicide bomb attack on bus kills 30 Afghan soldiersJune 2007: Bomb attack on Afghan police bus kills up to 35 people In pictures: Afghan bomb attack | |
| "India and Afghanistan have a deep relationship between each other. Such attacks of the enemy will not harm our relations," Mr Spanta told the personnel at the embassy, the spokesman said. | "India and Afghanistan have a deep relationship between each other. Such attacks of the enemy will not harm our relations," Mr Spanta told the personnel at the embassy, the spokesman said. |
| And the Indian government spokesman said: "Such acts of terror will not deter us from fulfilling our commitments to the government and people of Afghanistan." | And the Indian government spokesman said: "Such acts of terror will not deter us from fulfilling our commitments to the government and people of Afghanistan." |
| Afghanistan's interior ministry said it believed the attack was carried out "in coordination and consultation with an active intelligence service in the region". | Afghanistan's interior ministry said it believed the attack was carried out "in coordination and consultation with an active intelligence service in the region". |
| It did not specify. But in the past, Afghanistan has accused Pakistani agents of being behind a number of attacks on its soil. | It did not specify. But in the past, Afghanistan has accused Pakistani agents of being behind a number of attacks on its soil. |
| In April, there was an assassination attempt against the Afghan President Hamid Karzai in the city. | In April, there was an assassination attempt against the Afghan President Hamid Karzai in the city. |
| And earlier in the year, Taleban militants launched an attack on the Serena hotel killing several people. | And earlier in the year, Taleban militants launched an attack on the Serena hotel killing several people. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected? Send us your experiences using the form below: | Are you in the area? Have you been affected? Send us your experiences using the form below: |