A suicide bomb blast has killed as many as 24 people in the Afghan capital Kabul.

24 killed as blast rocks Afghan Intelligence Office in Kabul https://t.co/o3ZNkzr6G1 #KabulBlast pic.twitter.com/vWHZQGZfoq— Newsroompost.com (newsroompostind) April 19, 2016

The chaos happened when a car laden with explosives went off outside the office of a security detail responsible for protecting Afghan government VIPs and officials, according to police sources.

Seems that fighting is still going on as shots are ringing out sporadically#KabulBlast pic.twitter.com/jr3VGWZ9jG— Abu Dujanah (055Brigade) April 19, 2016

As many as 161 people are reported injured.

Witnesses say the explosion sparked a heavy gunfight in a densely populated part of the city during rush hour.

Afghan president says several killed and wounded in Kabul blast https://t.co/lyzEfKsAGp pic.twitter.com/cnXYW5dJGM— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) April 19, 2016

The exact target is unknown, but the country’s Ministry of Defe