Afghanistan

Three dead in suicide attack on Kabul military airport

Article published on the 2009-09-08 Latest update 2009-09-08 09:36 TU

Police carry a casualty of Tuesday's suicide bomb outside the military air base in Kabul
(Photo: Reuters)

A suicide bomber attacked the military airport in Kabul on Tuesday. Initial reports claim that three Afghan civilians died in the blast with ten others injured, including four Nato soldiers.

One of the injured civilians is reported to be in a critical condition.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the incident, the second suicide attack targeting the airbase in less than a month. It was apparently aimed at a convoy of foreign military vehicles.

A military spokesman told the AFP news agency that the attack, which took place at 8.22am local time, occurred outside the main gate of the base, just east of Kabul.

"It was a suicide attack outside the main gate of the military base at the airport," said Colonel Koziel Bart.

Operations at the base were suspended for an hour before air traffic resumed.

Witnesses said three SUV vehicles had driven towards the gate of the base, and that the third had exploded. A Taliban spokesman said it contained a 500 kilogram bomb.

Three American soldiers and a Belgian soldier were wounded in attack, according to a military spoekesman.