Italian embassy feared hit by rocket as blast heard in Kabul
A powerful blast has shaken Kabul, witnesses told Reuters, with local TOLONews saying a rocket landed on the territory of Italy’s embassy.
A blaze has broken out inside of the compound, TOLONews reports. Officials told the news outlet that at least one person - a security guard - has been injured.
#KabulRocketAttack on Italian Embassy. Officials confirm one embassy security guard injured.
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) January 17, 2016
Source at italy foreign min says "random rocket" landed near italian embassy in #kabul. No specific target. No Diplomatic personnel injured
— ClaudioLavanga (@Lavanga) January 17, 2016
However, according to Reuters, the rocket struck near the embassy, and not inside the compound.
At least two guards, who are Afghani nationals, were injured as a result of the attack, the Italian Ansa news agency reported, citing its diplomatic sources. The condition of both is said to be stable.
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes just a day before a meeting of Afghan and international authorities on possible peace talks with the Taliban.
The blast is the latest in a series of suicide attacks that have taken place in Kabul this month.
The Taliban, whose insurgency escalated when foreign troops ended their operations in the region, have claimed responsibility for a number of attacks targeting sites in and around Kabul, including a French restaurant, a police checkpoint, and the Indian consulate, among others. However, most of those killed and injured have been Afghan civilians.
Outside the entrance of #ItalianEmbassy in #Kabul, outter perimeter of US embassy- loud broadcast of "all clear" pic.twitter.com/xB5rHjwNpO
— M. H Arsalai (@ArsalaiH) January 17, 2016
Ran into the American military on the way to #ItalianEmbassy in #Kabul, everyone on heightened alert pic.twitter.com/Th5UIAQKrR
— M. H Arsalai (@ArsalaiH) January 17, 2016
Afghanistan, razzo contro ambasciata italiana a Kabul: un ferito https://t.co/cMizLdIVVTpic.twitter.com/j1kRLHzwS2
— ilmessaggero (@ilmessaggeroit) January 17, 2016
Last week, representatives from Pakistan, the USA, China and Afghanistan took part in talks in Islamabad to discuss plans for peace talks with Taliban. The meeting is to be resumed on Monday.
The Taliban did not take part in the talks last week and has yet to agree to sit down at the negotiating table.