Explosion in diplomatic area of Kabul kills, wounds dozens

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   KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A massive explosion rocked a highly secure diplomatic area of Kabul on Wednesday morning, causing casualties and sending a huge plume of smoke over the Afghan capital. At least 50 people may have been killed or wounded in what officials said was a suicide car bombing.

   No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast but both the Taliban and the Islamic State group have staged large-scale attacks in the Afghan capital in the past.

   Details on the blast in the in Wazir Akbar Khan district were sketchy and Najib Danish, deputy spokesman for the Interior Ministry, did not have a breakdown of the casualties.


   Ismail Kawasi, spokesman for the public health ministry, confirmed that so far more than 60 wounded in the explosion were admitted to different Kabul hospitals.



   "There are a large number of casualties, but I don't know, how many people are killed or wounded," said an eyewitness at the site, Gul Rahim.

