Taliban Claim Explosion Near Kabul Airport That Killed At Least 1

UPDATE: 4:13 a.m. EST — Abdul Rahman Rahimi, the head of Kabul police, confirmed Monday that one person was killed and 13 people were injured in the attack near the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Reuters reported. He added that the target of the attack seemed to have been a white pickup truck, which is similar to those used by security contractors in the country. The truck was partially destroyed in the attack along with a minibus.

Rahimi said that the aim of the attack was to create fear among the residents in the area. "Enemies of humanity detonated a suicide car bomb in front of a madrassa where children were learning the Koran and Islamic studies. It shows that they are enemies of mosques, God and the Koran," he said, according to Reuters.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said on Twitter that the attack was aimed at foreign forces. The extremist group also said on its website that it killed 13 people in the attack.

A spokesman for NATO said that there was no indication of any of its members being hit.

The attack comes a day after Gen. Raheel Sharif, the head of Pakistan’s army, visited Kabul to lay the groundwork to resume peace talks with Taliban.

Original story:

At least 13 people were injured and one person was killed after an explosion near the Hamid Karzai International Airport in the Afghan capital Kabul Monday, according to reports. A suicide car bomb exploded near the airport's eastern gate, which is used by coalition forces and NATO officials, at 8 a.m., local time (10:30 p.m. EST Sunday).

There was, however, no official confirmation on the death toll. Afghan officials said it was too early to talk about the casualties, Al Jazeera reported. Local news agency Pajhwok Afghan News reported that Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to a report by Reuters, police officials and emergency crew were present at the site. Gunfire was also heard in the area, Press Tv reported.