KABUL, Afghanistan
U.K. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has confirmed that a British national is among the three dead in a suicide bomb attack near Kabul’s Hamid Karzai Airport.
“This is the second attack in a matter of days for which the Taliban have claimed responsibility and I strongly condemn their cowardly actions. I can confirm that a British security contractor is among those killed in the attack,” Hammond said in a statement Sunday.
“Two Afghan women have also sadly lost their lives and many more have been injured. These attacks must not stop the people of Afghanistan, with the support of the international community, working towards a more peaceful future,” he added.
Earlier, Afghan police official Haqnawaz Haqyar said that at least three people were killed and 18 others were injured in a suicide bomb attack that targeted a European Union Police Mission (EUPOL) convoy near the airport Sunday morning.
“The bomber targeted the foreigners’ convoy at 9 a.m., killing three people,” Haqyar said.
“EUPOL Afghanistan can confirm that one EUPOL vehicle was involved in today’s attack close to the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul,” EUPOL said on its website. “Three mission members who were in the vehicle are in a safe location now and their injuries are not believed to be fatal. However, EUPOL can confirm that one person inside the vehicle has been killed,” it added.
A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack.
Earlier this week, Taliban attacked a Kabul guesthouse frequented by foreigners, leaving 14 people dead, including nine foreign citizens.
