8 killed in car bomb near Russian Embassy in Kabul

Afghan policemen and fire-fighters inspect the wreckage of a bus that was hit by a suicide bomb attack, in an area near the Russian embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan January 20, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

KABUL - At least eight people were killed and 27 others wounded after a suicide car bomb rocked near the Russian Embassy in the western part of the Afghan capital of Kabul on Wednesday, witnesses and sources said.

The attacker targeted a minibus carrying local media workers,Kabul Police Chief General Abdul Rahman Rahimi told reporters.

Seven civilians, including two women, died in addition to the bomber on the spot while 25 civilians wounded as a result of the explosion,Rahimi said citing initial information.

The number of casualties may change as the victims were shifted into different hospitals,Rahimi noted.

The suicide blast occurred at around 05:10 p.m. (1240) along Dar-ul-Aman road. The attacker rammed his sedan into a minibus running along the four-line road, witness Jamal Formuli told Xinhua.

Some bystanders were among the casualties. The number of people aboard the targeted bus was not immediately clear.

Security forces have cordoned off the area for precautionary measures.

The Criminal Investigation Department of Afghan National Police launched an investigation into the incident.

Unofficial sources said the bus belongs to Kabora, a local media production. They said no member of the Russian Embassy was hurt in the attack.

No group has claimed responsibility yet for the attack.

The blast came months after the Taliban militants announced some private TV channels as their targets over what they said releasing of imbalanced reports and siding with the government.