Suicide Attack at Kabul's Ministry of Justice Kills at Least Six

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At least six people have been killed in a suicide attack at the Ministry of Justice in central Kabul, the third attack on the Afghan capital in a week.

Interior Minister spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said the explosives were detonated in the parking lot of the Ministry of Justice, reported the Associated Press. The attack happened at the end of the working day when ministry employees board minibuses in the car park to go home.

Sediqqi said at least six people were killed and nine wounded, said AP. The spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health, Ismail Kahossi, said a total of 42 people were taken to hospitals, some with only minor injuries.

Initial information from police claimed the large explosion was detonated by a male suicide attacker who was driving a Toyota car. The government building is located in a busy downtown area, near the Serena hotel which is popular with foreigners.

BBC journalist Kawoon Khamoosh tweeted a comment from Afghanistan's Deputy Interior Minister General Mohammad Ayoub Salangi saying that four men and one woman had died.

NDTV is reporting that at least five people have been killed, and more than 40 wounded. The number of dead is expected to rise.

Video via Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Suicide attack in justice ministry car parking. Injured police shifting to hospital. Photo via @MassoodSanjer pic.twitter.com/KL2Sxkv2Jb

— Syed Anwar (@Sayed_Anwer) May 19, 2015

Big smoke raising from the blast area. #Kabul #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/b0u4nXC2Mo

— Masood Alam (@SMasudAlam) May 19, 2015

Flash: an injured of the explosion — Rateb Noori (@RatebNoori)May 19, 2015

Pic: Explosion in the parking of justice ministry — Rateb Noori (@RatebNoori)May 19, 2015

Pic: The explosion was really strong that could break glasses of nearby buildings. — Rateb Noori (@RatebNoori)May 19, 2015

Last week 14 people, including nine foreigners, were killed in an attack on a Kabul guesthouse, while a suicide bomb this week killed two young girls and a British security contractor.

Related: Foreigners Targeted as 14 Killed in Kabul Guesthouse Attack

Photo via Flickr