IS suicide attack near Afghan Foreign Ministry, six civilians killed; many injured

A suicide attack by the Islamic State group near Afghanistan's foreign ministry has killed six civilians and wounded several others. The AFP news agency gave this information citing the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Foreign Ministry was attacked for the second time this year

Six people have been killed after a suicide bomber detonated an explosion near Afghanistan's foreign ministry in Kabul, according to officials, in the second attack near the ministry this year. "The attacker was targeted by Afghan forces, but the explosive he was carrying detonated, killing six civilians and injuring several others," ministry spokesman Abdul Nafi Takor tweeted on Monday. 

Detonation of explosives

Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said the suicide bomber was identified at a security checkpoint near the ministry. "At Malik Asghar Chowk...a suicide bomber was identified at a checkpoint and killed before reaching the target, but his explosives detonated," he said.

Three members of the Taliban's security forces were injured

The spokesman did not name the target, but the blast occurred near a checkpoint in a busy area of ​ ​the city guarding a heavily fortified road that houses several government buildings, including the foreign ministry. Zadran said the wounded included three members of the Taliban's security forces. 

Islamic State group claimed responsibility

A tweet by the NGO said a child was also among the injured. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Two witnesses said they heard a large explosion near the heavily guarded area containing several government buildings and foreign embassies. Kabul and other urban areas have witnessed attacks in recent months, some of which have been claimed by ISIL (ISIS)