Reports: 3 Americans killed in Afghan suicide car bombing

Bryan Alexander | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Suicide car bomb in Kabul reportedly kills 3 Americans A suicide car bomber attacked a NATO convoy traveling through a crowded neighborhood in Afghanistan's capital Saturday, killing at least 12 people, authorities said. (Aug. 22)

A suicide car bomber attacked a NATO convoy traveling through a residential neighborhood in Kabul on Saturday, killing at least 12, including three Americans, according to multiple media outlets.

Three civilian contractors for the international military force, all Americans, were killed in the blast in Afghanistan's capital, the Associated Press and CBS News reported. No further details were immediately available about the identities of the contractors.

The Afghanistan-based TOLO news agency reported at least 67 other people were injured, including five children.

“A lot of dead bodies and wounded victims were there after the explosion happened in the area,” Mohammad Hussain, who was wounded in the attack, told the AP. “There were a lot of casualties.”

At least one armored vehicle in the convoy was destroyed. The powerful explosion came during evening rush hour and as schools were letting out in the eastern part Kabul. The car bomb caused extensive damage to nearby buildings and cars.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, and a Taliban spokesman denied involvement in an email to the AP.

But the Taliban, who often don't claim attacks that have a high number of civilian causalities, have launched a series of attacks in Kabul in recent weeks following the announcement of the death of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar. Their targets have included foreign military and civilian convoys.

On Aug. 7, a Taliban attack on a NATO military base near Kabul’s international airport killed an American soldier and eight Afghan contractors. A Taliban-claimed suicide car bombing targeting a NATO convoy on June 30 on the main highway to the Kabul airport wounded two U.S. soldiers and at least 24 others while killing two Afghan civilians.

On May 17, a British security contractor was killed when the armored car he was traveling in for Eupol was hit by a suicide car bomber. Two Afghan women nearby also were killed.

Contributing: The Associated Press