More than 35 killed, over 35 wounded in bomb attack on police bus in Kabul
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A bomb ripped through a police bus in a crowded civilian area in the Afghan capital on Sunday, killing more than 35 people and wounding over 35 others, officials and witnesses said.
An Interior Ministry official said that more than 35 people were killed in the attack. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of ministry policy.
Dr. Fazel Rahim, from a nearby hospital, said 18 dead bodies lay in the hospital courtyard, while more than 35 wounded were being treated inside the building.
"Most of the wounded are in serious condition," said Rahim, whose hands and white coat were covered in blood.
The police bus was carrying several police recruits when the bomb went off inside it, said Zalmai Khan, the deputy police chief of Kabul province.
The thunderous explosion was heard throughout central Kabul at about 8:10 a.m. local time.
The roof of the bus was blown off and officers were pulling a number of bodies from the wreckage, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene.
The explosion twisted the bus into a charred skeleton, and bloody unidentifiable body parts littered the area as far as 27 metres from the bus. Hundreds of police and investigators were inspecting the scene.
Wali Mohammad, an eyewitness who was driving his car just behind the bus, said "there were a lot killed and wounded, both police and civilian."
Mohammad said that he "saw a big fire and dust in front of me."
The blast happened at a crowded bus station, used by both police and civilians, near the Kabul governor's house.
Police and other Afghan security officials are commonly targeted by insurgents because they are seen as tools of the U.S.-backed government of President Hamid Karzai.
At least 307 Afghan security officials have been killed in violence so far this year, according to figures from the U.S., U.N., NATO and Afghan authorities.
