Kabul attack kills 13 Americans

A suicide attack in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday targeted a convoy of foreign troops, killing at least 20 people including 13 Americans.

The attack was the worst loss of life among U.S. troops in Kabul in years, The New York Times reports.

The Associated Press news agency said Nato helicopters had taken casualties from the scene, near the national museum, in the western Darulaman area of Kabul.

Reports said the explosives were detonated from a car as an armored NATO shuttle carrying U.S. soldiers was passing by, at 11:20 local time.

The dead included at least 8 civilians and two chidren. A military officer told the Times that a military dog also died.

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The AP said witnesses reported seeing vehicles burning at the site, with “bodies still underneath”.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message to media outlets.

The BBC reports that in recent months there has been an increase in militant attacks across Afghanistan.