Islamabad (dpa) - At least six civilians were killed and a number of others were injured in a suicide bombing near the Foreign Ministry in Kabul city, Afghan police said on Monday.

In a statement, Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said officers shot the suicide bomber near a security checkpoint in police district two of the city before he was able to reach his destination.

As a result, up to six civilians were killed and a number of others including three members of the security forces were injured, the official added without specifying the number wounded.

The Italian non-governmental organization Hospital Emergency said 12 wounded patients, including a child, were brought to the hospital after the blast, adding that two others were already dead on arrival.

The blast occurred at midday in the city centre during Kabul’s rush hour, as government employees were ending their working day early due to Ramadan.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

When the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, the so-called Islamic State group intensified its attacks in Afghanistan, mainly targeting religious minorities, members of the Taliban and areas where foreign diplomats live.

In mid-January, Islamic State claimed responsibility for an explosion outside the Afghan Foreign Ministry that killed and wounded dozens of people including ministry employees.

Afghanistan has become increasingly isolated from the West due to the Taliban’s draconian policies towards women, their disregard for human rights and their refusal to form a representative government.