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Soldier killed when insurgents hit Afghan security agency office in Kabul

By Masoud Popalzai, CNN
updated 9:12 PM EST, Wed January 16, 2013
A truck driver peers through the broken windshield of his vehicle at the site of a the suicide attack on Wednesday.
A truck driver peers through the broken windshield of his vehicle at the site of a the suicide attack on Wednesday.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • NEW: Slain soldier was from security directorate; 30 other people reported wounded
  • Police say they killed five insurgents and a sixth died in a bombing
  • One car bomb exploded and another was neutralized, police say
  • Taliban claim responsibility, say government officials and foreigners were targeted

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The Taliban claimed responsibility Wednesday for a midday suicide attack near an office of Afghanistan's national security agency in central Kabul that killed a soldier and wounded 30 other people.

The insurgents targeted a division of the National Directorate of Security, which is near the Afghan Interior Ministry, Kabul Police Chief Mohammad Ayoub Salangi said.

Read more: Suicide bombers kill at least 5 at meeting of tribal elders in Afghanistan

One suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden car, but five other attackers were killed by Afghan security forces. A second car bomb was neutralized, Salangi said.

One soldier from the security directorate was killed.

Officials: Drone killed Taliban commander

An e-mail from Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said the group was targeting government officials and foreigners who were leaving a meeting at the building.

Police said injuries from the attack ranged from serious to light, while the Taliban said a number of people were killed.

Read more: Inside the Taliban

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