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Afghan policemen stand guard near the site of the explosion in Kabul on August 7, 2019. REUTERS / Omar Sobhani

On Wednesday, August 7, a huge explosion rocked Kabul, causing a smoke mushroom in the sky. There could be significant civilian casualties, witnesses and a security source. The latest assessment reports at least 80 injured.

" I heard a big boom and all the windows in my shop broke, " a trader, Ahmad Saleh, told AFP. " The windows of twenty stores, some one kilometer from the site of the explosion, broke, " he added.

According to Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi, " a vehicle filled with explosives exploded at the entrance of the police station in western Kabul at 9:00 am (4:30 UTC), " without further details. . According to a visible video on social networks and witnesses, small arms fire could be heard after the blast.

At least 34 people were transported to hospitals in the city, health ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar said.

The violence escalated sharply in July, the bloodiest month since May 2017, with more than 1,500 killed and wounded in Afghanistan, according to the UN. They continue despite talks between the United States and Taliban representatives who are currently conducting an eighth round of negotiations in Doha.

( with AFP )