Six killed in Kabul suicide bomb attack
3/13/2008 - 7:18:55 AMA suicide car bomber struck an armoured vehicle carrying US troops near Kabul’s airport today, killing at least six Afghan civilians and wounding up to 20 others.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.
None of the four American troops travelling in a two-vehicle convoy were badly wounded.
The suicide car bomb turned into a fiery hull that burned on the main airport road long after the attack while several other vehicles were damaged in the explosion.
The attacker was driving a white Toyota Corolla, a favourite among suicide car bombers.
In a mobile phone text message, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid identified the suicide bomber as Abdullah.
US troops and international security contractors surrounded the area after the blast.
Mohammad Salim, an eyewitness, took four wounded Afghans to the hospital.
“I saw the Americans getting out of the vehicle, then pointing their guns. Then they moved under a tree,” Mr Salim said.
Insurgents detonated 160 suicide attacks in 2007, a record number, the UN has said. Last year was the deadliest in the country since the 2001 US-led invasion with more than 8,000 insurgency related deaths.