Blast outside Russian Embassy in Kabul kills two embassy staff

Smoke rises from the site of an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 21, 2018. (REUTERS/FILE)
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  • Russia’s state news agency reports 15 to 20 other people have also been killed or wounded in the explosion
  • There was no immediate claim of responsibility, though local affiliates of Daesh have been attacking Taliban, civilians

KABUL: Russian Foreign Ministry says two of its embassy staff were killed by an explosion outside Russia’s Embassy in Kabul on Monday.
The ministry didn’t offer any details as to who the staff members were or how they died. Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported earlier, citing anonymous sources, that 15-20 people were killed or wounded as the result of the explosion.
According to RIA Novosti, the blast occurred when a Russian diplomat came out to the people queuing outside to call out the names of the candidates for a visa.
The agency, citing unnamed sources, says the blast occurred on Monday when a Russian diplomat came out to people waiting outside to call out the names of the candidates for a visa.
The Taliban did not immediately confirm the explosion or give any casualty figures.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion, the latest to strike the country in the year since the Taliban seized power.
Local affiliates of Daesh have stepped up attacks against the Taliban and civilians since the former insurgents took over the country last year as US and NATO troops were in the final stages of their withdrawal.