Two Australians hurt in Kabul car bomb

Two Australian security contractors have been injured in a fatal bomb explosion in Kabul, which exploded as vehicles from the Australian embassy were passing.

A car bomb went off near Australian embassy vehicles in Kabul, killing a civilian.

A car bomb went off near Australian embassy vehicles in Kabul, killing a civilian. Source: AAP

Two Australian security contractors have been wounded in a car bomb blast in Kabul, which killed at least three Afghan civilians.

It was first thought no Australians were injured in the attack on Friday, but Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has confirmed two suffered minor injuries.

"Our hearts and thoughts go to the families of those injured," she told reporters on Saturday.

No one has claimed responsibility for the explosion that went off near Australian embassy vehicles as they travelled in the Afghanistan capital.

The suspected suicide car bomber killed up to three civilians and injured a number of bystanders, according to local media, Ms Bishop said.



Four Australian embassy vehicles were damaged in the attack, which occurred near the embassy.

"I'm advised all Australian staff are safe," Ms Bishop said.

"Our deepest sympathies to the people of Afghanistan for this attack and we are certainly deeply concerned about the safety of all people in the area."

The attack highlighted the risk of risk of terrorism and insurgent groups to the stability of Afghanistan, she said.

The attack came two days after President Ashraf Ghani offered to start peace talks with the Taliban, and just over a month after an ambulance packed with explosives was detonated in the city centre, killing about 100 people.

Much of the centre of Kabul is already a zone of concrete blast walls, razor wire and police checkpoints, but security has been tightened even further after the January 27 ambulance attack and another attack on the city's Intercontinental Hotel earlier in the month.


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