Taliban fighters check cars on a street in Kabul, Nov 17, 2021. (PETROS GIANNAKOURIS / AP)
KABUL – Two Russian embassy staff in the Afghan capital, Kabul, were killed when a suicide bomber detonated explosives near the entrance of the embassy, in a blast that injured 11 others, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
Police said two people had died in the incident, but did not give their identities, while the attacker was shot dead by armed guards as he approached the gate.
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"A suicide bomber was attempting to blow himself up among people in a crowded area in Police District 7 at around 11:00 am local time today but security personnel identified and gunned down him which led to a blast," Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said.
As a result of the attack, two employees of the diplomatic mission were killed, and there are also victims among Afghan citizens.
Foreign ministry, Russia
The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that an unknown militant set off an explosive device near the entrance to the consular section of the embassy.
"As a result of the attack, two employees of the diplomatic mission were killed, and there are also victims among Afghan citizens," the ministry said.
No group or individual has claimed responsibility yet.
Russia is one of the few countries to have maintained an embassy in Kabul after the Taliban took over the country more than a year ago.
In a similar blast, for which the hardliner Daesh or Islamic State group has claimed responsibility, a suicide attack outside a mosque in the western Herat city on Friday claimed 18 lives, including a prominent cleric, and injured 23 others, according to officials.