KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber on a bicycle struck outside the Afghan Defense Ministry early today, killing at least nine Afghan civilians as U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel visited Kabul, officials said.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in the Afghan capital, and said it was meant as a message to the U.S. defense chief.
Pentagon spokesman George Little said the secretary was in a briefing at a U.S.-led military coalition facility in another part of the city when the explosion occurred.
He said the briefing continued without interruption.
Afghan officials said the bomber on a bicycle struck just before 9 a.m. local time about 30 yards from the main gate of the ministry.
A man at the scene, Abdul Ghafoor, said the blast rocked the entire area.
“I saw dead bodies and wounded victims lying everywhere,” Ghafoor said.