4 dead after Taliban suicide bomber attacks British Embassy vehicle

A suicide bomber hit a British Embassy vehicle in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Thursday, killing at least five and injuring more than 30, according to law enforcement officials.

At least one British citizen and four Afghans were killed after the attacker detonated a car filled with explosives near the British vehicle, according to The Washington Post.

The Taliban Islamist insurgency claimed responsibility for the attack which occurred around 10 a.m.

In a tweet, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that the “martyrdom attack targeted foreign invaders.”

Just a few hours later, Taliban fighters staged an attack in the wealthy Kabul neighborhood of Wazir Akbar Khan, BBC News reported.

Several embassies, foreign compounds and international agencies are located in the district.

Although it is not clear what the target of the second attack was, the Taliban have targeted foreigners in recent weeks as most U.S. and international troops prepare to withdraw from the country by the end of the year.

Britain’s Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond said in a statement that a British citizen belonging to the embassy’s civilian security team and an Afghan working for the embassy were killed in the suicide bombing.

“I condemn this appalling attack on innocent civilians supporting our diplomatic activity,” Mr. Hammond said in the statement. “This outrage brings home to us once again the courage and perseverance of the people of Afghanistan and members of the international community who support them, who have lived together through decades of conflict.”

On Monday two American soldiers, including one from Maryland’s eastern shore, were killed by a bomb attached to a bicycle, which was detonated as their convoy passed.

A separate US-led force will assist Afghan troops to combat the Taliban and about 12,000 NATO soldiers are expected to remain in the country to train and advise Afghan security forces after beyond the end of the year.