Blast outside Indian embassy, staff safe

New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) The Indian embassy building in
Kabul was damaged in a powerful explosion that took place
outside the mission premises Thursday morning but all its
staff members were safe.

"All embassy personnel are safe. There is some damage to
the outer wall of the embassy," External Affairs Ministry
spokesman Vishnu Prakash told PTI here.

He said the blast occurred around 9:30 am and officials
in the ministry were closely monitoring the situation.
"I believe that the suicide attack was directed against
our embassy," Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said.

At least four persons were killed in the blast that took
place outside the embassy in Kabul's heavily-fortified area
having diplomatic missions and government offices.

In July last year, a suicide car bomber had rammed into
the front wall of the Indian Embassy, killing 41 people and
wounding 147 in one of the deadliest attacks in the Afghan
capital. PTI