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Kabul bombing: Canadian embassy suffered ‘significant’ damage

At least 90 people are dead and more than 400 have been injured after a car bomb exploded in what was supposed to be a secure area of Afghanistan's capital city, Kabul. Mike Le Couteur has more on the devastation and Canada's response – May 31, 2017

Canada’s embassy in Kabul suffered “significant” damage after a powerful bomb hidden in a sewage tanker exploded in the diplomatic district of Afghanistan’s capital, killing at least 90 people and injuring over 350 more Wednesday.

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“All our Embassy employees have been accounted for and are safe,” Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement. “Our Canadian embassy sustained significant damage to its first floor and there was minimal impact on the rest of the building.”

READ MORE: Here’s what you need to know about the deadly bombing near Canadian embassy in Kabul

The powerful explosion rocked the neighbourhood, which is considered the city’s safest, during the peak of morning rush hour.

WATCH: Security cameras capture power of deadly Kabul bomb

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Earlier, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the “heinous terrorist attack.”

“Canada strongly condemns today’s bombing in Kabul. Our thoughts are with the Afghan people and the victims of this heinous terrorist attack,” the prime minister tweeted.

Trudeau noted the staff at the Canadian embassy “are safe and accounted for,” adding that “Canadians will keep working alongside Afghans as they rebuild and recover.”

Freeland condemned that attack which comes just days after the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

As the Associated Press reports, Afghan officials said the target of the suicide bombing wasn’t immediately known, adding that most of the causalities were civilians, many of whom were women and children.

WATCH: Hundreds of chanting Afghan protesters demanded the resignation of President Ashraf Ghani’s government on Friday following this week’s devastating truck bomb attack in Kabul, squaring off against police who fired into the air to keep them back.

“The timing of this cowardly attack during the holy month of Ramadan was deliberate and intended to target civilians and foreign service workers from some of our closest allies,” the minister said in the statement. “Canadian diplomats and our local staff, today and every day, continue to show the utmost resolve and courage in their work, which is essential.”

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No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast. The Taliban issued a statement denying any involvement and condemning all attacks against civilians.

 

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