KABUL, Afghanistan — Two British embassy workers were among at least five people killed in a suicide attack on their vehicle in the Afghan capital Thursday, officials said. One of those killed in the attack on the embassy vehicle was a British security guard employed by global contractor G4S, the firm said in a statement. An Afghan national working at the embassy and three Afghan civilians also died in the blast on Kabul's Jalalabad Road, according to British and Afghan officials. The Taliban, the group ousted from power in Afghanistan by a U.S.-led coalition in 2001, claimed responsibility for what it called the "suicide attack on the foreign invaders."

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond called the incident an "outrage" and condemned it as an "appalling attack on innocent civilians supporting our diplomatic activity." At least 31 others, including three embassy staff, were injured, according to two senior Kabul police officials. Afghan Interior Ministry Spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said the Afghan driver of the British embassy vehicle was among those killed. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a message on Twitter.

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Shocking news from #Kabul of attack on British Embassy vehicle. Working to get full facts. Thoughts with all our people @UKinAfghanistan. — Simon Fraser (@SimonFraserFCO) November 27, 2014

- Fazul Rahim and Alexander Smith