Reliable sources from Afghanistan’s security agencies said the suspicious car outside a blast site in the west of Kabul on Wednesday evening was searched by government forces following a suicide bombing at a gym, but they could not find out that it was packed wtih explosives.
The second blast happened over an hour after the first blast when explosives placed inside the suspicious car were detonated. The two blasts left almost 26 people dead and over 80 others wounded. Eyewitnesses and sources say the casualty toll is much higher.
The sources said a jammer was installed on the car when police arrived after the first explosion but it was later removed when the first team of the forces left and was replaced by another.
The first explosion happened just after 6pm on Wednesday when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives in the entrance of Maiwand Wrestling Gym in Qala-e-Nazer area in Dasht-e-Barchi of Kabul’s PD6.
The first blast took the lives of many athletes however the second blast killed first responders and two TOLOnews journalists.
“The NDS searched and checked the car and the head of anti-terrorism department installed a jammer on it. The jammer disconnect the connections and I think when the car exploded the jammer was removed,” a security force members said on condition of anonymity.
Some residents said the car was parked in the area two hours before the first blast.
Ariana News cameraman, Sami Jahish, was close to TOLOnews journalists Samim Faramarz and Ramiz Ahmadi. He said they all entered the scene after the area was cleared by security forces.
“They (security forces) did not cleared the area properly,” said Jahish.
1TV cameraman, Elyas Hamidi, said they entered the first explosion scene after the area was searched by government forces, but suddenly the second explosion took place.
“Our cameras were searched and we were allowed to enter the area after passing three check points,” said Hamidi.
Some eyewitnesses said CCTV cameras installed in nearby areas have captured the attack scene but the devices have been confiscated by security forces.
“Mr. President! Do you know what is going on? We do not want financial assistance; we want security,” said Sarwar, an eyewitness.
Daesh has claimed responsibility for the attacks.