A Taliban suicide bomber struck a police base in central Kabul Monday, February 1, killing at least nine people just days before a fresh round of international talks aimed at reviving Taliban peace negotiations, AFP reports.

Scores of people were also wounded in the bombing at the entrance of the base, which left several bodies and charred debris strewn around the area.

The attack comes amid the Taliban's unprecedented winter offensive despite a renewed push to restart formal peace talks.

The interior ministry initially reported the attack as a suicide car bomb, but later said the attacker appeared to be on foot and detonated himself in a queue of people waiting to get inside the base.

"Ten people were reported killed and 20 others were wounded in a suicide attack in Deh Mazang square of Kabul city," deputy interior minister Mohammad Ayoub Salangi said on Twitter, according to AFP.

"Most of the victims were civilians."

Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid reported a death toll of nine, adding that as many as 12 people including a woman were wounded.

The health ministry said some of those wounded were hit in the chest by flying shrapnel and are in critical condition.