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Kabul blast: Suicide bomber targets foreign convoy | Kabul blast: Suicide bomber targets foreign convoy |
(34 minutes later) | |
At least 15 people have been killed and dozens wounded in a suicide bomb attack on a military convoy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, officials say. | At least 15 people have been killed and dozens wounded in a suicide bomb attack on a military convoy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, officials say. |
Two US soldiers and four civilian contractors were among the dead, US and Nato officials said. | |
Nine Afghan civilians, including two children, were also reported to have died in the blast. | |
An insurgent group linked to the Taliban, Hezb-e-Islami, told the BBC in a phone call it was responsible. | An insurgent group linked to the Taliban, Hezb-e-Islami, told the BBC in a phone call it was responsible. |
The explosives-filled Toyota Corolla was blown up beside foreign military vehicles at about 08:00 (03:30 GMT), Kabul Police Chief Gen Salangi said. | The explosives-filled Toyota Corolla was blown up beside foreign military vehicles at about 08:00 (03:30 GMT), Kabul Police Chief Gen Salangi said. |
Nato confirmed that four civilian contractors had been killed, but declined to give their nationalities. | |
The US military said two of its soldiers had been killed. | |
Smoke rose above the industrial district of Karta-e Naw after the powerful explosion. | Smoke rose above the industrial district of Karta-e Naw after the powerful explosion. |
The force of the blast destroyed several houses and a wide area of the city has been cordoned off. | The force of the blast destroyed several houses and a wide area of the city has been cordoned off. |
More than 40 people are reported to have been injured. | |
Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the "cowardly" attack. | |
"Terrorists and enemies of Afghanistan's peace brutally targeted a residential area," he said in a statement. | |
A local resident told AFP news agency: "I heard a terrible explosion and our whole building shook." | A local resident told AFP news agency: "I heard a terrible explosion and our whole building shook." |
It is the first major blast in Kabul since March, when a suicide bomber blew himself up near the defence ministry, killing nine people. | It is the first major blast in Kabul since March, when a suicide bomber blew himself up near the defence ministry, killing nine people. |
The latest attack comes during what has been a bloody month for Isaf in Afghanistan, with at least 15 foreign military personnel killed in separate incidents since the beginning of May. | The latest attack comes during what has been a bloody month for Isaf in Afghanistan, with at least 15 foreign military personnel killed in separate incidents since the beginning of May. |
The Taliban announced a "spring offensive" in April, saying it would target foreign military bases and diplomatic areas. | The Taliban announced a "spring offensive" in April, saying it would target foreign military bases and diplomatic areas. |