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Bomb destroys police bus in Kabul Bomb destroys police bus in Kabul
(about 1 hour later)
A bomb attack on an Afghan police bus has killed up to 35 people and injured many in Kabul, officials say. A bomb attack on an Afghan police bus has killed at least 21 people and left 24 injured in Kabul, officials say.
The bomb went off close to police headquarters in the city centre at rush hour. Most of the dead are police recruits or instructors. The rush-hour attack close to police HQ in the city centre killed mostly police instructors. The injured include foreigners, police say.
It is thought to be the highest number of deaths caused by a bomb in Kabul since the Taleban were ousted in 2001. It is thought to be the most devastating bomb attack in Kabul since the Taleban were ousted in 2001.
Taleban rebels told the BBC that they carried out the attack - the fifth bombing in three days. Taleban rebels told the BBC that they had carried out the attack - the fifth bombing in three days.
The blast site resembled a scene from Baghdad, the BBC's John Simpson says.The blast site resembled a scene from Baghdad, the BBC's John Simpson says.
Such an attack is disturbingly new on the streets of Kabul and the tactics appear to have been borrowed directly from Iraq, our world affairs editor reports from Kabul.Such an attack is disturbingly new on the streets of Kabul and the tactics appear to have been borrowed directly from Iraq, our world affairs editor reports from Kabul.
Bomb 'aboard bus' In a separate incident, a suicide bomber on a motorcycle attacked a military convoy in the north Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif. One Afghan civilian was killed and several injured but no soldiers were hurt.
Senior officer Ali Shah Paktiawal said that 35 people had been killed. Foreigners
Most of the victims are believed to have been police officers Kabul's police chief gave a death toll of 21, all of whom were police instructors apart from one civilians. Police had initially reported 35 deaths.
However, a doctor at a nearby hospital, Fazel Rahim, told The Associated Press he had counted 18 bodies while 35 people were being treated for injuries. MAJOR BOMB ATTACKS 17 June 07: Attack on Kabul police bus kills at least 2127 February 07: Suicide bomber kills 22 at Kabul's Bagram air base during a visit by US Vice-President Dick Cheney8 September 06: Suicide car bombing in Kabul kills 18 including two US soldiers1 June 05: Suicide bomber dressed as policeman kills 20 at a Kandahar mosque
"Most of the wounded are in a serious condition," Dr Rahim added, his hands and white coat covered in blood. Addressing reporters, Police Chief Dawlatzai said 24 people had been injured, including two Japanese citizens, one "Korean" and two Pakistanis.
At least two of the injured were in a coma. Sunday was to see the handover of police training in Kabul from Germany to the European Union, Afghan media reports say.
Police initially told the BBC that a man had blown himself up on board the bus but are now uncertain whether the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber or a device placed on board beforehand. Police say they are uncertain whether the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber or a device placed on board beforehand.
According to AP, the explosion appeared to have happened in the front of the vehicle, which was more badly damaged.According to AP, the explosion appeared to have happened in the front of the vehicle, which was more badly damaged.
Reuters quotes an unnamed police eyewitness as saying he had seen the bomber leap on to the bus as it was moving slowly away, its door wide open.
'Fire and dust''Fire and dust'
Outside police headquarters, there were little pools of blood and bits of bodies.Outside police headquarters, there were little pools of blood and bits of bodies.
Most of the victims are believed to have been police officers
Wali Mohammad, an eyewitness who was driving his car just behind the bus, told AP news agency that both police and civilians were among the dead and injured.Wali Mohammad, an eyewitness who was driving his car just behind the bus, told AP news agency that both police and civilians were among the dead and injured.
He said he had seen "a big fire and dust" in front of him.He said he had seen "a big fire and dust" in front of him.
Correspondents say the thunderous blast could be heard across Kabul.Correspondents say the thunderous blast could be heard across Kabul.
According to Afghan media reports, Sunday was to see the handover of police training in Kabul from Germany to the European Union.
The city saw another suicide attack at exactly the same time on Saturday morning. That incident on the outskirts caused at least three deaths.The city saw another suicide attack at exactly the same time on Saturday morning. That incident on the outskirts caused at least three deaths.
The past two days have also seen suicide attacks in the north and south of the country.The past two days have also seen suicide attacks in the north and south of the country.