At least 12 people have been killed in an explosion in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Reports from Afghanistan say the blast, believed to be a suicide attack, occurred near to the interior ministry office and the Indian embassy.

It is believed the bomber drove a car into the area, detonating it close to the outer wall of the embassy. At least 12 people are believed to have been killed and at least another 80 injured in the attack.

The explosion hit at 08:27 local time (04:53 BST), as local people were on their way to work. India’s foreign secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters that she believed "the suicide bomb was directed against the Indian embassy".

"The suicide bomber came up to the outer perimeter wall of the embassy in a car loaded with explosives," she said.

Three Indian paramilitary troops guarding the embassy received minor shrapnel injuries, the minister added.

Today’s attack is the latest in a series of attacks on Kabul, which has particularly targeted international and government forces. Last month six Italian soldiers were killed in a bomb attack on a military convoy.

In July 2008 a suicide bomber rammed a car full of explosives into the gates of the Indian embassy in the Afghan capital, killing dozens of people and injuring more than 140.

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