2nd LD Writethru: 3rd explosion in Kabul adds to anxiety among residents

The third explosion which occurred in Qasaba locality in the northern part of Afghan capital Kabul on Friday night claimed one life and injured two others, a police officer said Saturday on condition of anonymity.

"A suicide bomber blew up his explosive-laden car next to the gate of the counter-narcotics office at 10:00 p.m. Friday night facilitating other terrorists to enter but the guards around returned fire trigerring gun battle," the officer told Xinhua.

The person killed in the blast was the suicide attacker, the official said, adding that the identity of two more persons who sustained injuries in the firefight have yet to be known.

A U.S. base is also located next to the compound of the Counter- Narcotics Directorate, said the officer.

He said the suicide bombing followed by gun shots and sporadic firing lasted till Saturday morning.

The suicide attack in Qasaba was the third of its kind since wee hours of Friday.

A big explosion believed to be a truck bomb hit Shah Shahid locality at 1:00 a.m. Friday had left at least 15 people dead and injured more than 400 others, mostly innocent civilians including women and children.

The second attack in the shape of suicide bombing targeted the students of Police Academy on Friday evening leaving over two dozen dead and injured, according to a police officer who declined to be identified.

However, officials have yet to make comment on the casualties of attacks on Counter-Narcotics Directorate in and the Police Academy.

Meanwhile, the waves of three bomb attacks in a span of a single day on Friday have added to the concerns of the war-weary Afghans especially the Kabul residents more than any time. Endi