2 Russian diplomats among several killed in blast outside embassy in Kabul

The Afghan police earlier said a suicide bomber had detonated explosives near the entrance of the Russian Embassy in Kabul, adding the attacker was shot dead by armed guards as he approached the gate.

Two Russian diplomats were killed along with several locals in an explosion outside the country’s embassy in Afghanistan capital Kabul on Monday

Representational image.

The Russian foreign ministry said two employees of the diplomatic mission were killed, adding there were casualties among Afghan citizens as well.

The Afghan police earlier said a suicide bomber had detonated explosives near the entrance of the Russian Embassy on Darulaman Road in Kabul, adding the attacker was shot dead by armed guards as he approached the gate.

"The suicide attacker before reaching the target, was recognised and shot by Russian embassy (Taliban) guards... there is no information about casualties yet," Mawlawi Sabir, the head of the police district where the attack took place, was quoted as saying by told Reuters.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government is investigating the incident, deputy spokesperson Bilal Karimi 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 recognise the Taliban government, they have been in talks with officials over an agreement to supply gasoline and other commodities.

(With inputs from agencies)