A Taliban suicide bomber has detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near a NATO military convoy entering Kabul airport, killing himself but causing no other casualties.
The blast on Wednesday was heard across the Afghan capital, which has seen a recent drop in insurgent attacks after several high-profile strikes earlier this year.
"We can confirm a suicide car bombing that targeted an ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) convoy coming to Kabul International Airport," a spokeswoman with the NATO force said.
"The vehicle detonated too early and didn't reach the convoy. There were no ISAF casualties."
Interior ministry spokesman Sidiq Sediqqi said there were no Afghan casualties in the attack on the airport, which houses a major NATO military base as well as operating civilian flights to cities including Dubai, New Delhi and Istanbul.
Flights were delayed only briefly after the bomb exploded.
The Taliban, who regularly exaggerate casualty numbers, claimed responsibility via their main Twitter account, saying ten soldiers had been killed or injured and two German vehicles destroyed.
Afghan and NATO troops quickly sealed off the scene around the mangled remains of the attacker's car seen outside an airport entrance used by workers.
