A suicide bomber blew up a sport-utility vehicle packed with explosives near the Indian Embassy in Kabul on Thursday, killing 17 people and injuring nearly eighty others.
The Thursday morning blast was powerful enough to blow the walls off of shops and destroy nearby cars, officials said. It occurred on a shop-lined road between the Interior Ministry and the Indian Embassy in the Afghan capital at about 8:30 a.m. local time.
Fifteen civilians were among the dead. Two Afghan police officers were also killed, according to a statement from the Interior Ministry. At least 76 others were wounded.
The deadly blast, which the Taliban later claimed responsibility for, was condemned by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the U.S. Embassy and the United Nations.
Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon also condemned those who carried out the bombing for targeting civilians.
"This attack once again demonstrates that the insurgents in Afghanistan have no regard for the lives of Afghans," said Cannon.
He added that the blast showed that the Taliban is determined to prevent the war-torn country from becoming safe and secure. In spite of that, Canada's mission in Afghanistan would continue to work towards its goals there, he said.
"Canada's continuing objective is to help Afghans build a stable and secure country based on the fundamental values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law," Cannon said.
It was the second major bombing attack the city has seen in less than a month.
A 21-year-old shop owner named Najibullah said he was knocked unconscious by the blast.
"Dust was everywhere. People were shouting," Najibullah said. "You couldn't see their faces because there was so much dust."
Mohammad Arif said he was thrown through the air before striking a concrete barrier. His head was bleeding when he spoke to a reporter.
The Indian ambassador in Kabul said the explosion blew off some of the embassy's doors and windows.
Afghan Interior Minister Zemeri Bashary confirmed that the blast had been caused by a suicide car bomb, but he had no further details.
Within hours, India's Foreign Secretary announced that the embassy had been the target of the blast.
"I believe the suicide bomb was directed at the embassy since the suicide bomber came up to the outer perimeter wall of the embassy in a car loaded with explosives," Nirupama Rao told reporters.
Three Indian paramilitary soldiers were among those injured.
Rao said the blast was similar to another attack in July 2008 that hit the same building, which killed dozens of civilians.
The Taliban did not say why the Indian Embassy had been targeted. But extremist groups in Afghanistan that were once supported by Pakistan's intelligence service have attacked Indian targets for years. Both India and Pakistan are vying for influence among Afghanistan's various ethnic groups.
With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press
