'This is revenge against those soldiers who burned our Koran': Suicide car bomber kills nine in Afghanistan airport blast

A suicide car bomber killed nine people after striking at the gates of an Afghan airport - in an attack insurgents said was revenge for U.S. troops burning copies of the Koran.

This morning's explosion outside Jalalabad Airport comes after six days of deadly protests in Afghanistan over the disposal of Islamic texts in a burn pit last week at a U.S. military base north of the capital.

American officials have called the incident a mistake and issued a series of apologies. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has also urged calm, saying that Afghans should not let the insurgents capitalise on their indignation to spark violence.

But today's attack appeared to be a sign that the Taliban are seizing the opportunity to do just that.

The bomber drove up to the gates of the airport - which serves both civilian and international military aircraft - shortly after dawn and detonated his explosives in a 'very strong' blast, said Nangarhar provincial police spokesman Hazrad Mohammad.

Among the dead were six civilians, two airport guards and one soldier, Mohammad said. Another six people were wounded. Read More