Officials in Afghanistan say a bomb attack has killed an Afghan intelligence official in the country's north.

The victim was an official in the Kunduz city branch of Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security. Authorities say the blast Thursday destroyed the official's car.

The explosion also wounded three children.

The attack comes two days after suicide bombers attacked a compound that houses private security companies in Kunduz, killing at least four Afghan security guards.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, the first major strike by insurgents in Afghanistan since the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Violence in the country has increased as Afghans begin taking security control from U.S. and NATO-led forces. Most foreign combat troops are set to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014.