Six killed in bomb explosion near US embassy in Kabul

The US and Italian embassies went into lockdown soon after the Saturday bomb attack, claimed by the Taliban.

The headquarters of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), US embassy and other missions are located in the diplomatic area of the Afghan capital.

ISAF and Afghan officials confirmed the attack, saying a bomber detonated explosives near the heavily barricaded Shashdarak area at 11:30 a.m. local time on Saturday.

There were no reports of foreign casualties.

"There are no ISAF casualties. The ISAF compound is secure," said US Army Major Adam Wojack.

Violence in Afghanistan has been on the rise in recent months despite the presence of thousands of US-led foreign forces in the war-weary country.