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| Kabul blast: Dozens of casualties in Afghan capital | Kabul blast: Dozens of casualties in Afghan capital |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A huge explosion has hit the Afghan capital, Kabul, close to foreign embassies and the presidential palace. | A huge explosion has hit the Afghan capital, Kabul, close to foreign embassies and the presidential palace. |
| The latest figures from the Afghan health ministry say at least nine people have been killed and 84 injured. | The latest figures from the Afghan health ministry say at least nine people have been killed and 84 injured. |
| Early reports say the blast was caused by a vehicle bomb in central Zanbaq Square, with windows and doors blown out hundreds of metres away. | Early reports say the blast was caused by a vehicle bomb in central Zanbaq Square, with windows and doors blown out hundreds of metres away. |
| Images on social media show a large cloud of black smoke over the city and a series of destroyed vehicles. | Images on social media show a large cloud of black smoke over the city and a series of destroyed vehicles. |
| The BBC Persian's Harun Nazafijada in Kabul describes a chaotic scene with people being transferred to hospital. | |
| The central blast area has been cordoned off by police. | The central blast area has been cordoned off by police. |
| Our correspondent says burnt-out cars are one indication of the blast's force. Images of shattered glass carpeting a large area of the square are also being shared widely on social media. | Our correspondent says burnt-out cars are one indication of the blast's force. Images of shattered glass carpeting a large area of the square are also being shared widely on social media. |
| Basir Mujahid a spokesman for Kabul police, told Reuters news agency: "It was a car bomb near the German embassy, but there are several other important compounds and offices near there too. It is hard to say what the exact target is." | Basir Mujahid a spokesman for Kabul police, told Reuters news agency: "It was a car bomb near the German embassy, but there are several other important compounds and offices near there too. It is hard to say what the exact target is." |
| No group has yet said it carried out Wednesday's attack, but last month the Taliban announced the start of a major spring offensive, saying their main focus would be foreign forces, targeting them with a mix of conventional, guerrilla, insider and suicide attacks. | No group has yet said it carried out Wednesday's attack, but last month the Taliban announced the start of a major spring offensive, saying their main focus would be foreign forces, targeting them with a mix of conventional, guerrilla, insider and suicide attacks. |
| The US has about 8,400 troops in Afghanistan, with another 5,000 from Nato allies. | The US has about 8,400 troops in Afghanistan, with another 5,000 from Nato allies. |
| A recent Taliban attack on an Afghan army training compound in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif killed at least 135 soldiers, and led to the resignation of the defence minister and army chief of staff. | A recent Taliban attack on an Afghan army training compound in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif killed at least 135 soldiers, and led to the resignation of the defence minister and army chief of staff. |
| The so-called Islamic State in Afghanistan has also been active, saying it was behind a suicide bomb attack this month on a Nato convoy that was passing the US embassy in Kabul. At least eight civilians were killed. | The so-called Islamic State in Afghanistan has also been active, saying it was behind a suicide bomb attack this month on a Nato convoy that was passing the US embassy in Kabul. At least eight civilians were killed. |
| Are you in Kabul? What are conditions like at the moment? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you in Kabul? What are conditions like at the moment? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |