Taliban Suicide Bomber Attacks NATO Convoy in Kabul

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A suicide blast claimed by the Taliban in Kabul on Tuesday has left at least one civilian dead and 22 other people injured, though there are conflicting reports of the death toll.

Kabul Police told VICE News that the attack, which took place during early afternoon prayers, was a suicide car bomb which happened close to the main airport road in Afghanistan's capital, less than half a mile from the US embassy.

The target of the bombing was apparently a NATO convoy. Ahmad Farhad, an eyewitness to the attack, described how he saw a car ram into "the convoy of foreign forces."

At least two armored vehicles were badly damaged in the explosion. NATO spokesman US Army Col. Brian Tribus said that "no coalition casualties were caused by the attack."

Farhad added that vehicles were damaged and there were many wounded people who had "no one to help them."

Video via Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

A source told VICE News that following the explosion, the US embassy's alarm went off and that those inside the building were ordered to duck and cover.

Embassy spokeswoman Heather Easton said all personnel in the building were accounted for.

Helmand Police Chief General Nabi Jan Mullahkhil told VICE News that the attackers were driving a small pickup truck, and two of the attackers died when they detonated their explosives, while another attacker was killed by police.

Related: Another Taliban Attack Kills 11 Soldiers in Afghanistan

VICE News understands that the suicide attackers were planning a complex attack on Lashkargah police chief office in southern Helmand province, but couldn't get through.

This attack comes just one day after the Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack which killed 11 soldiers, and is one of a number of attacks carried out by the Taliban after they vowed a nationwide "spring offensive."

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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