Suicide bomber targets British diplomats in Kabul, killing 6

USPA News - A suicide car bomber targeted a British embassy vehicle in the Afghan capital Kabul on Thursday morning, killing six people, including a British security team member, and injuring dozens of civilians, officials said. The Taliban claimed responsibility.

The attack happened at around 10:30 a.m. local time when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vehicle near a convoy transporting British diplomatic personnel. One of the cars from the British Embassy suffered the brunt of the explosion, but other vehicles and buildings nearby were also damaged. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed a British civilian security team member and an Afghan national working for the British embassy were among those killed in the attack. Authorities in Kabul confirmed four Afghan civilians were also killed, while as many as 37 others were injured, including five Afghan children and a second British member of the security team. "I condemn this appalling attack on innocent civilians supporting our diplomatic activity," Hammond said. "This outrage brings home to us once again the courage and perseverance of the people of Afghanistan and members of the international community who support them, who have lived together through decades of conflict." Hammond added: "We will not allow such inhumanity to deter us from continuing our partnership with the Government of Afghanistan. I have nothing but admiration for the staff of the Embassy, British and Afghan, who work at great personal risk to help build a better future for Afghanistan." Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, which happened on Jalalabad Road.