Scot among 7 killed in Afghanistan suicide bomb

A Scottish security contractor was among those killed in a suicide bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. Picture: Getty

• Scottish security contractor among those killed in suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan

• Mark Duffus, 41, was from Forres in Moray

A SCOTTISH security guard was among at least seven people killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan.

A policeman stands guard near the site of the attack. Picture: Getty

Security contractor Mark Duffus, 41, from Moray, died during the bombing on the Kabul base of a logistics firm supplying Nato forces

Five guards, four of them Nepali, were among those killed in the gun and bomb attack yesterday.

The Kabul police chief told how four insurgents – who were all killed – had a truck loaded with explosives.

He said the attack began at about 4:30am local time with a suicide bomb delivered by the vehicle, which was then followed by small arms fire.

Reports suggested the bombers’ vehicle was stopped outside the facility by guards.

After the explosives were detonated, gunmen began shooting at guards in a 30-minute battle, officials said.

As well as the Nepali guards, two Afghan truck drivers who were waiting to enter the compound were killed, along with an Afghan guard.

Kabul police chief Gen Ayub Salangi said the blast from the truck left a large crater in the ground.

Shortly after the attack, smoke was seen rising above the scene in the north of the city.

It is the latest in a series of insurgent assaults on the capital designed to undermine claims that local security forces can protect the city and cast doubt on the future of Afghanistan once foreign combat troops leave next year.

Last week, Afghan security forces put down a militant gun and bomb attack near the presidential palace, in one of the most secure areas of the capital Kabul.

The Taleban say they carried out that attack, in which four insurgents and three security guards died.

On Monday, the Afghan intelligence agency said a would-be suicide bomber had been shot dead in central Kabul.