Kabul bomb: Huge blast targets French restaurant popular with ex pats on New Year's Day in Afghanistan capital

Initial reports suggest the popular Le Jardin restaurant was hit, despite its extensive security

File image: Kabul police have faced a number of attacks in recent weeks (Getty Images)

A popular French restaurant in downtown Kabul appears to have been targeted in a huge car bomb attack heard across the Afghan capital on New Year's Day.

Witnesses described seeing or hearing a loud explosion at the heart of a central district full of foreign embassies and government buildings.

Speaking to Reuters, a police official said the suspected car bomb had hit the Le Jardin restaurant, one of a small number of establishments still visited by foreigners.

According to a number of local media reports, the restaurant was running a special New Year's promotion at the time.

The apparent attack was the latest in a series of bombings reported across Kabul in recent weeks, and came days after the Taliban claimed responsibility for a deadly explosion near the city's airport.

There were no initial reports on damage or casualties, as well as some conflicting reports suggesting that a government guesthouse was targeted.

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