3 Americans among Kabul blast victims

KABUL: Three US civilian contractors were among those killed by a suicide car bomb that targeted their Nato convoy, the US-led coalition in Afghanistan said.

The attack, which killed 12 people, is one of the most lethal to target US citizens in recent years.

The blast destroyed several vehicles, including a school van and an armoured pick-up truck believed to be used by the contractors.

“One Resolute Support US contractor was killed and two died of wounds,” the Nato coalition, known as Resolute Support, said.

Security sources said the contractors had worked for US company DynCorp International.

The company, which provides training, security and aviation maintenance to the Nato mission and the Afghan military, confirmed it had been the target.

“A DynCorp International vehicle carrying members of our team was tragically attacked,” it said.

The attack on a residential street during rush hour killed mainly Afghan civilians and injured scores, heightening the anger felt in Kabul after a string of blasts killed dozens this month.

The Taliban, fighting to re-establish hardline Islamist rule more than 13 years after the US-led military intervention that toppled their regime, denied it was behind the attack.

The US embassy in Kabul condemned the bombing.

“The US remains committed to assisting our Afghan partners in their efforts to ensure a peaceful future,” it said.

The violence has strained Afghanistan’s ties with neighbour Pakistan, with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani accusing the Pakistan government of not doing enough to stop militants planning attacks from training camps he says lie across the border. – Reuters