Taliban claims responsibility for bombing

The Taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing Wednesday that killed eight Americans believed to be CIA employees.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said the attack in Khost province was carried out by a bomber wearing an explosives-laden vest. He, however, said that 13 U.S. soldiers were killed in the attack.

Earlier, a senior U.S. official said information suggested a bomber walked into a gym facility at Forward Operating Base Chapman and detonated a suicide vest. It’s not known how the bomber got past security.

In addition to the eight deaths, the blast wounded six Americans, the official said.

A U.S. military source said that FOB Chapman was originally a base for the Khost Provincial Construction Team, but the team left some time ago.

Authorities believe that perhaps the suicide bomber attacked just after a convoy was ending or beginning, which would account for high number of casualties.

Also Wednesday, five Canadians (four soldiers and a journalist) were killed when a roadside bomb hit their armored vehicle in southern Afghanistan, Canada’s defense ministry said.