Afghanistan: Two Russian Embassy Staff Killed in Kabul Suicide Attack

At least two people were killed and 15 others injured after an explosion occurred near the Russian Embassy in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, on Monday, Al Jazeera reported, citing an Afghan security source.

In the first attack targeting a foreign mission since the Taliban seized power in August last year, the bomber blew himself up near the entrance of the embassy’s consular section.

“As a result of the attack, two employees of the diplomatic mission were killed, and there are also Afghan citizens among the wounded”, the Russian foreign ministry said.

Russian agency RIA reported that a diplomat and an embassy security guard had been wounded in the attack.

At the same time Afghan authorities provided a different account, saying a suicide attacker was shot dead by Taliban guards at the Russian embassy. An Afghan civilian was killed and several others wounded, interior ministry spokesman Abdul Nafy Takor said.

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. Although Moscow does not officially recognize the Taliban’s government, they have been in talks with officials over an agreement to supply gasoline and other commodities.