Afghanistan: At least 35 killed, over 40 injured in car bomb explosion in Kabul

The death toll from a suicide car bomb blast in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Monday rose to at least 35.

The blast occurred in Qala-e-shada locality roughly at 06:50 am local time

The Taliban earlier claimed responsibility for the blast in the western part of Kabul. 

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack on behalf of the Islamist group in a post on Twitter, saying 37 'intelligence workers' had been killed.

"The car bomb hit a bus carrying employees of the ministry of mines during rush hour," interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish told AFP.

The neighbourhood in which bomb detonated is home to many Shiite Hazaras, a persecuted ethnic minority who have been targeted many times in the past.

It is also near prominent politician and former warlord Mohammad Mohaqeq's home. Omid Maisom Mohaqiq, a spokesman for the politician, said the bomb had detonated near the first checkpoint approaching the house, "killing and wounding some civilians".

Kabul is regularly rocked by suicide bombs and attacks. A recent UN report showed they accounted for nearly one-fifth of all civilian Afghan casualties in the first half of 2017.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which has been documenting civilian casualties since 2009, said in its recent report that 1,662 civilians were killed and more than 3,500 injured in the first six months of the year.

The area has been the scene of several attacks including the suicide attack that killed prominent Shiite Muslim cleric Ramazan Hussainzada last month.

#KABUL - More than 20 people were killed in explosion in Gulaee Dawa Khana area in PD3, deputy CEO Mohammad Mohaqoq's office confirmed. pic.twitter.com/hRPlOHsibm

— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) July 24, 2017