KABUL, Afghanistan - A suicide car bomber struck early today at the gates of Jalalabad airport in eastern Afghanistan, officials said, killing nine people in an attack insurgents said was revenge for U.S. troops burning Qurans.
On Sunday, protesters hurled grenades at a U.S. outpost, injuring seven troops. Two other people were killed.
The explosion comes after six days of deadly protests in Afghanistan over the disposal of Qurans and other 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 urged calm, saying that Afghans should not let the insurgents capitalize on their indignation to spark violence.
Today's attack appeared to be a sign that the Taliban are seizing the opportunity to do just that.
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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, he said.
More than 30 people have been killed in protests and related attacks since the incident came to light this past Tuesday, including four U.S. soldiers.
On Sunday, demonstrators hurled grenades at a small U.S. base in northern Afghanistan, and the ensuing gunbattle left two Afghans dead and seven NATO troops injured.
Still, the top U.S. diplomat in Afghanistan said Sunday that the violence would not change Washington's course.
"Tensions are running very high here, and I think we need to let things calm down, return to a more normal atmosphere, and then get on with business," Ambassador Ryan Crocker told CNN.
In Sunday's protest in Kunduz, thousands of protesters tried to enter the district's largest city.
Armed individuals in the crowd fired on police and threw grenades at the U.S. base on the city's outskirts, said Amanuddin Quriashi, administrator in Imam Sahib.
Seven NATO troops were wounded by the grenade. One protester was killed by troops firing from the base, and another was killed by Afghan police, Quriashi said.
US Toll in Afghanistan
1,780
Deaths
15,380
Wounded
Latest identifications
• Lt. Col. John D. Loftis, 44, of Paducah, Ky., assigned to the 866th Air Expeditionary Squadron, Kabul.
Source: Department of Defense. Deaths as of Sunday. Wounded as of Sunday.
