Two die in suicide attack at Kabul shopping mall (Second Lead)

KABUL - Two people were killed Monday in a massive suicide bombing at a shopping mall that is frequented by foreigners in this Afghan capital, officials said.

The blast happened in Charrahi Ansari area in downtown Kabul, Xinhua said. City Center is a shopping mall frequented by foreigners and wealthy Afghans.

DPA adds: Private security personnel guarding the Kabul City Centre shot at the attacker after he tried to enter the mall, said Zamarai Bashiri, Interior Ministry spokesman.

“The bomber managed to explode his vest, and two guards were martyred,” Bashiri said. Two more people were injured.

Mohammad Zahir, head of the criminal investigative department of the Kabul police, said his forces were trying to find out if more bombers were inside the building.

Two police helicopters were hovering over the area while roads to the Share-e-Naw area, where the mall is located, were cordoned off by security forces.

The attack came two days after five bombers attacked police headquarters in the southern city of Kandahar, killing 21 people and injuring at least 60.