Truck bomb kills 4 in Kabul

KABUL -- At least four people including a policeman and three attackers were killed, and three policemen were injured in a truck bomb targeting a foreign guest house in Kabul, police said on Monday.

The attack took place in Pul-e-Charkhi locality in the eastern edge of Kabul city, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said.

One militant exploded his explosive-laden truck next to North Gate Hotel, a foreign guest house, at 01:30 a.m. local time, Rahimi told reporters at the site of the blast.

A police personnel and an attacker were killed in the blast and three others injured. The police also gunned down two more terrorists who took position at a nearby building, Rahimi said.

According to Rahimi no civilians were injured. The guest house next to the bombing site was frequented by foreigners.

Taliban militants claimed responsibility for the attack.

Zabihullah Majahid, who claimed to speak for the Taliban outfit in contact with media outlets, said the attack killed several foreigners.

He said the bombing, followed by gunshots, was targeting North Gate Hotel which was frequented by U.S. citizens.

Locals at the site, however, reported higher number of casualties than announced by Kabul police chief.

Dozens of houses and shops around the blast site were also destroyed or badly damaged.