Taliban Explosion Rocks Kabul, Killing at Least 40

KABUL, Afghanistan — At least 40 people were killed and more than 140 other were injured when a bomb placed in an ambulance set off a huge explosion on a busy Kabul street on Saturday, Afghan officials said.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes days after a 15-hour Taliban siege on at the Intercontinental hotel in Kabul that left 22 dead, including 14 foreigners.

The explosion happened on a guarded street that leads to an old Interior Ministry building and several embassies, officials said. Many ministry departments still have offices there, and visitors line up every day for routine business.

Baseer Mujahid, a spokesman for the Kabul police, said the bomber drove past the first checkpoint at the entrance to the street. “Police stopped the vehicle at the second checkpoint,” Mr. Mujahid said. “Then he tried to drive in from the wrong lane.

“Again, the police tried to stop him. But he detonated the explosive-laden vehicle.”

The city’s hospitals were overwhelmed by the number of wounded, and officials feared that the death toll could rise.

“It is a critical situation,” said Waheed Majroh, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health.

“It’s a massacre,” said Dejan Panic, the coordinator for the Emergency aid organization’s trauma hospitals in Afghanistan. At least 70 people were brought to the group’s Kabul hospital.

Many of the buildings and shops on the street were shattered, their windows blown out. Ambulances ands police pickup trucks loaded victims and rushed to hospitals. Chaos prevailed as security forces started brawling among themselves, and as family members begged the police to allow them on the street to seek news of loved ones.

“I saw a flame that blinded my eyes, then I went unconscious,” said Nazeer Ahmad, 45, who was wounded in the head. “When I opened my eyes, I saw bodies lying on the ground.”

Fatima Faizi contributed reporting.

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