A suicide bombing has killed at least 40 people and injured 140 others in the centre of Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, officials say.

Attackers drove an ambulance laden with explosives past a police checkpoint into a street that was only open to government workers.

It happened near the old interior ministry building and offices of the European Union and High Peace Council.

The Taliban have said they carried out the attack.

A week ago, Taliban militants killed 22 people in a luxury Kabul hotel.

Officials said the death toll would probably continue to rise as casualties were brought to hospitals for medical attention.

It is the deadliest attack in Kabul in several months.