Suicide bomber kills two civilians in Afghanistan

A suicide car bomber ignited a huge blast in the Afghanistan capital Kabul today near two armoured vehicles used by US-led coalition troops, killing at least two civilians and destroying the wall of a nearby house, witnesses and officials said.

The bomber damaged the armoured vehicles, but none of the troops was injured, said Lt Col. David Johnson, a coalition spokesman.

At least two civilians were killed in the blast, said Gen Ali Shah Paktiawal, director of criminal investigations for the Kabul police, adding that the bomber, who was in a vehicle, also died.

US and Afghan security forces raced to the scene, as broken glass and pieces of the bomber’s vehicle littered the street in a neighbourhood of the capital where many foreigners live. The body of one victim lay in the street.

US soldiers were removing communications equipment from the wreckage.