Indian Express, October 8, 2009

12 killed, 83 hurt in blast outside Indian Embassy in Kabul

Most of the wounded are civilians

At least 12 people were killed and more than 80 injured.


An Afghan woman weeps as she looks for relatives at the site of the explosion outside the Indian embassy.

A suicide bomber on Thursday blew up his car outside the compound of the Indian Embassy in the Afghan capital killing at least 12 people and leaving 83 wounded, including three ITBP jawans, in a fiery blast that had all the hallmarks of Taliban.

The powerful blast blew up the mission watch tower, destroyed vehicles and left a trail of death and destruction with Indian Ambassador Jayant Prasad saying, "Indian Embassy was the target."

"A suicide car bomb took place near the Indian Embassy in which 12 people were killed and 83 wounded. Most of the wounded are civilians," Interior Ministry spokesman Zemaral Bashry said.

The Indian Ambassador said, "We have confirmed reports of nine killed, four critically injured and 12 others severely wounded. The toll may go up."

But the suicide bomber failed to breach the Embassy's security perimeter and Prasad said, "no mission staff or Indian had been killed in the attack."

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