70 killed in Afghanistan as Taliban launch suicide car bomb attackand slaughter patients inside a burning hospital

No fewer than 70 have been killed in Afghanistan after Taliban militants launched separate attacks on a bus and a hospital.

The attack on the hospital was carried out a day ago while the car bomb attack was carried out this morning. 

The militants set a hospital alight in the central Ghor province before slaughtering 35 patients inside. 

Then, another attack this morning in Kabul targeted a bus carrying employees of the mines andpetroleum ministry in Kabul. The blast was so intense that it destroyed nearby shops and three civilian vehicles. Pictures show a giant cloud of black smoke at the site of the blast, which was near the house of the deputy government Chief Executive Mohammad MohaqiqActing Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said at least 24 people were killed in the car explosion and 40 were wounded but the casualty toll could rise further. 

Another seniorofficial, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the death toll stood at 35.

Taliban claimed responsibility for theattack. In a tweet, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, said37 "intelligence workers" had been killed. 

He further disclosed that two buses had been targeted for the attack and had been under surveillance for two months.