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- Dubai 04:31 05:49 12:21 15:48 18:47 20:05
Wreckage is seen at the site of a blast, in an area close to the Russian embassy in the west of the capital of Kabul, Afghanistan January 20, 2016. (Reuters)
Seven employees of popular Afghan TV channel TOLO were killed Wednesday when a suicide car bomber rammed into their minibus in Kabul, just months after the Taliban declared the network a legitimate "military target".
At least 25 other people were wounded in the bombing near the Russian embassy in downtown Kabul, in the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the carnage, as violence escalates despite an international push to jumpstart Taliban peace talks.
"In the terrorist attack today in... Kabul, we lost seven staff members," TOLO, a privately run news and entertainment station that is often critical of the Taliban, said on Twitter.
The bombing left some workers burning inside the vehicle which was taking them home, an employee told AFP, adding that most of those killed were behind-the-scenes staff from the channel's graphics and dubbing departments.
The loud explosion sent a plume of smoke rising in the sky, with ambulances and firefighters rushing to the scene which was littered with charred debris.
"The enemy of humanity, peace and Islam martyred our colleagues because they were exposing their crimes," TOLO news presenter Fawad Aman said in a live broadcast.
"They martyred you to silence us, but they will never achieve this evil goal."
The deadly assault highlights the growing dangers faced by media workers in Afghanistan, as the security situation worsens amid a growing wave of militant attacks.
"Strongly condemn the barbaric attack on our brave media staff," Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Twitter. "My condolences are with their families. This is the act of coward terrorists."
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