Islamic State claims credit for Afghanistan suicide bomb blast that killed Russian embassy staff

Russian Foreign Ministry and Afghan officials said two Russian embassy staff and four Afghan civilians were killed in a suicide bomb blast that injured at least 10 others at the embassy in Kabul Monday.

Reuters said it was one of the first such attacks since the Taliban took control of the country last year, and that Russia is one of the few countries to have maintained its embassy there. The Islamic State took credit for the attack on its Telegram channel.

Taliban police said they shot the attacker before he reached the embassy gate. The Russian ministry said an "unknown militant set off an explosive device" near the entrance to the consular section.

While Russia doesn't officially recognize the Taliban government, a Taliban spokesperson said the government "has a close relationship with Russia; we will never let such negative actions of enemies have a negative impact on the relationship."