Taliban suicide attack on US base in Afghanistan over leaflet ´insult´

KABUL: A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle blew himself up outside an American base in Afghanistan on Wednesday, Afghan officials said, in an attack the Taliban claimed was revenge for a US leaflet deemed highly offensive to Muslims.

US and Afghan authorities confirmed several people were wounded in the late afternoon attack at Bagram Airfield, America´s largest base in the country. 

The Taliban claimed responsibility and said it was in retaliation for "their insult to the Islamic creed".

A spokeswoman for the Parwan provincial governor said "a suicide attacker on a motorbike detonated himself at the third gate of Bagram airbase".

"The attacker was riding a motorcycle. Three wounded can be confirmed," said Najib Danish, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry.

NATO´s Resolute Support mission said in a statement that "an explosion" had occurred "outside an entry control point" to Bagram that had caused a "small number of casualties".

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the attacker had killed and wounded "over 20 soldiers".

The incident came hours after US forces apologised for dropping leaflets in the northern province of Parwan, where Bagram is located, that allegedly depicted a lion chasing a white dog — the same colour as the Taliban´s flag.

"Take back your freedom from these dogs. Help the security forces eliminate these enemies. Take back your freedom and ensure your security," the leaflet says.

NATO forces frequently drop leaflets over large swathes of Afghanistan in an effort to persuade locals against supporting insurgents.

Social media users also condemned the disrespectful design on the leaflets.

Major General James Linder, who heads the US and NATO special operations forces in Afghanistan, issued a statement apologising for the leaflet design which he said was an "error".

It is not the first time US forces have caused offence in Afghanistan where they have spent the last 16 years waging war against the Taliban.