Afghan Public Health Ministry says 5 killed, 31 wounded in suicide bombing in Kabul

Afghan ministry: 5 killed in suicide bombing

KABUL — The Afghan Public Health Ministry says five people were killed and 31 others wounded in a suicide car bombing in a heavily guarded neighborhood in the Afghan capital.

The blast on Tuesday occurred near a hotel favored by Westerners, but it was unclear if the hotel was the target.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the explosion occurred near the home of his former first vice president, Ahmed Zia Massoud. During a speech at a conference on corruption, Karzai said two of Massoud’s guards were among those killed in the explosion.

The hotel was only slightly damaged. Three homes nearby were severely damaged and windows in nearby buildings were shattered.