KABUL - Six people were killed and 22 others wounded on Friday when a suicide attacker in a car targeted presidential runner Dr. Abdullah Abdullah’s convoy in Kabul, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said.

MoI Spokesman Siddiqui Siddique said the blast occurred as Abdullah’s supporters started leaving the Ariana Hotel, where Abdullah addressed a rally.

The blasts left six people dead and 22 others wounded, he said.

Soon after the blast, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah said he escaped unhurt from the assassination attempt that left some of his bodyguards mildly injured.

Abdullah was speaking at another rally held in his support soon after twin blasts ripped through his convoy returning from an earlier rally in the Mirwais Khan locality. 

He told the gathering arranged at the Inter Continental hotel that the blast took place in front of his and Zalmai Rassoul’s vehicles, but none of his campaign team members got hurt.

The explosions occurred at around 12:09pm near Mirwais Khan locality on the Silo Road close to Ariana Hotel, officials said. But eyewitnesses said both were suicide attacks.

An eyewitness wishing not to be named said a number of people were killed and wounded in the explosions.

A Pajhwok Reporter at the scene confirmed Abdullah’s convoy was the target of the blasts that damaged a number of vehicles.

The reporter saw a dead body lying at the scene. Police cordoned off the area soon after the incident, he added.

Muhammad Ishaq, an eyewitness, told Pajhwok Afghan News the blasts occurred soon after Abdullah’s motorcade left the Ariana Hotel. The exact number of those killed and wounded remained unclear.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack that came days ahead of the runoff presidential election due between Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.

“A few minutes ago, when we left a campaign rally our convoy was hit by a mine,” Abdullah told the election rally at the Continental Hotel. (Pajhwok)