A Taliban suicide bomber struck an explosives-filled car into military convoy just yards away from the US Embassy in Kabul resulting to the death of three NATO soldiers including two Americans and a Polish soldier and wounded almost 20 other troops and civilians on Tuesday.
The US Defense Official, who spoke on condition of inconspicuousness, told AFP that two Americans were among the casualties of the recent Kabul suicide bombing. However, the official did not specify if the victims were soldiers or civilians.
The NATO-led coalition had previously issued a statement saying that three personnel died in the attack and the Polish army reported one of its soldiers was killed.
The Kabul suicide bombing occurred at around ten minutes past eight on Tuesday morning which distressed nearby localities and sent a cloud of smoke high into the sky. The blast turned several vehicles into warped metal and bloodied and stunned Afghan passers-by.
NATO troops in full battle gear administered CPR and gave first-aid to bloodstained comrades beside the worn-out remains of a military vehicle that was thrown out on the side of the road while residents helped carry injured victims to hospital.
One of the first people responded on the scene was 27-year old captain of the Afghan national rugby team, Sayed Mustafa Saadat, who was returning from an early morning training session.
The Kabul suicide bombing happened during rush-hour traffic outside the Supreme Court and near the heavily-guarded US Embassy, on a route used by NATO convoys daily.
The NATO force has now 41,000 troops in Afghanistan with around 29,000 from the US and 300 from Poland. All NATO combat troops will pull out by December after 13 years of fighting the Taliban, with a follow-up of about 12,000 troops expected to stay on into 2015 on drill and support responsibilities.
The Taliban promptly claimed responsibility for the Kabul suicide bombing via a recognized social media Twitter account. Taliban spokesperson Abdulqahar Balkhi stated, "A powerful explosion destroyed 1 military vehicle, killing/wounding a number of American terrorists."
During the Kabul suicide bombing aftermath, Afghan and foreign troops safeguarded the area as fire and rescue vehicles moved in. Investigators inspected an empty black SUV, its windows smashed and exterior dented with shrapnel.
The identities and nationalities of the soldiers from the International Security and Assistance Force that were killed and wounded have not been released as of the moment.
Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said that 13 of the wounded victims were civilians. The New York Times also quoted him as saying that a maroon Toyota Corolla sedan packed with explosives was used to assault the two-vehicle convoy. Meanwhile, Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanakzai said 17 cars were damaged by the suicide car bomb that quaked buildings.
In a separate attack, NPR's Sean Carberry reported that a man wearing an Afghan Army uniform killed a NATO service member at a base in western Afghanistan. The incident is still under investigation.
The sparked violence comes as Afghanistan is still trying to define the winner of its disputed presidential election.
The Kabul suicide bombing steered by Taliban attacker killed three NATO soldiers and wounded thirteen civilians also damaged cars and shook nearby structures.
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