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Five killed in blast near Russian embassy in Afghanistan’s Kabul

According to the Tolo News agency, the blast was caused by an explosive-laden car
Afghan security officials EPA/HEDAYTULLAH AMID
Afghan security officials
© EPA/HEDAYTULLAH AMID

ABU DHABI, January 20. /TASS/. The death toll in the explosion in the area near Russia’s embassy in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul has reached five, a local law enforcement official told the Yak TV channel.

More than 20 people have been injured in the blast, the TV channel has reported, giving no details on the nationality.

The powerful explosion occurred in front of the Russian embassy’s building in Kabul earlier on Wednesday. The Tolo News agency reported that the blast was caused by an explosive-laden car.

A diplomatic source told TASS that no members of Russia’s embassy have been injured in the explosion. "According to preliminary information, a bus with state officials [of Afghanistan] was bombed," the source said. "No one was injured in the Russian embassy."

Minor damage was caused by an explosion, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

Moscow believes the blast was not directed against the Russian embassy and may have been caused by the conflict of local groups, a source in Russia’s Foreign Ministry told TASS.

 The Russian embassy to Afghanistan is stepping up security measures following an explosion.