A SUICIDE bomber has struck at a voter registration centre in the Afghan capital, killing at least 48 people and leaving at least 112 injured.

According to Afghanistan’s Pajhwok news agency, 21 women and five children died in the attack.

General Daud Amin, the Kabul police chief, said the target was civilians gathering to receive national identification cards ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections in October.

The large explosion echoed across the city, shattering windows miles away from the attack site and damaging several nearby vehicles.

Local TV stations broadcast live footage of hundreds of people gathered at nearby hospitals seeking word about loved ones.

In a statement carried by its Aamaq news agency, Daesh said it had targeted Shiite “apostates”.

Last week, three police officers responsible for guarding voter registration centres in two Afghan provinces were killed by militants, according to authorities.

There have already been at least four attacks on such centres since voter registration got under way a week ago.

Afghan security forces struggle to prevent regular attacks by the Taliban, who usually targeting the government and security forces, and Daesh who targeting the country’s Shiite minority.

Both want to establish a harsh form of Islamic rule, and are opposed to democratic elections.