![]() |
Afghan policemen stand guard at the site of a blast in Kabul, Afghanistan September 5, 2016. Photo source: REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail |
"The attack killed 24 people and left 91 others wounded, some of them seriously," ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh told AFP, warning that the toll could rise further.
The two bombers blew themselves up in rapid succession, in an attack apparently aimed at inflicting mass casualties as government workers left the ministry after work.
"The first explosion occurred on a bridge near the defence ministry. When soldiers, policemen and civilians rushed to the scene, there was the second explosion," defence ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish told AFP.
President Ashraf Ghani strongly condemned the attack.
"The enemies of Afghanistan are losing the fight in the ground battle with security forces," Ghani said in a statement. "That is why they are attacking, highways, cities, mosques, schools and ordinary people."
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter that the defence ministry was the object of the first attack, while police were targeted in the second.
What the stars mean:
★ Poor ★ ★ Promising ★★★ Good ★★★★ Very good ★★★★★ Exceptional