Powerful blast targets NATO convoy in Kabul, kills eight

A powerful blast targeting a convoy of foreign forces near the US embassy in Kabul killed at least eight people and wounded 25 other on Wednesday.

The blast hit the NATO coalition convoy during the morning rush hour in one of the busiest areas of Kabul.

One security source told AFP news agency the blast came when a white Toyota Corolla exploded as the convoy drove by. It was not immediately clear if it was a car bomb or a suicide attack.

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish confirmed that most of the victims were civilians.

"We are still checking the nature of the explosion, but I confirm a convoy of foreign forces was passing by when the explosion happened," he said.

A Resolute Support Spokesman, US Navy Captain Bill Salvin, said three US service members were wounded in the attack. The armoured personnel carriers, which are designed to withstand large blasts, were able to return to a coalition base under their own power, he said.

No group has said it was behind the bombing, but the blast follows a threat by the Taliban to target foreign forces in the spring offensive that it launched last week.

The annual offensive normally marks the start of the "fighting season", though this winter the Taliban continued to battle government forces.