British security officer among six people killed in suicide bomb attack on British diplomatic vehicle in Afghan capital

A British national civilian security team member was among the six people killed in this morning's Taliban suicide bomb attack on a British embassy vehicle in the Afghan capital, the Foreign Secretary confirmed today.

An Afghan national employed by the British embassy to drive the diplomatic 4x4 vehicle was also killed in the explosion, Philip Hammond added, going on to say that he condemns 'this appalling attack on innocent civilians supporting our diplomatic activity'.

It is understood remaining four victims include three members of a family who were heading to nearby Jalalabad for a wedding. The final body recovered from the scene belonged to the suicide bomber himself, who was travelling in a car packed with explosives.

The explosion left 33 other people injured - many of them civilians who had been going about their business along the busy stretch of road running from Kabul to the city of Jalalabad, which lies 95 miles to the east of the Afghan capital.

Taliban insurgents later released a brief statement claiming responsibility for the attack, saying the group had 'targeted foreign invading forces'.