WASHINGTON — A US official says six American troops were killed in a suicide attack near Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. Two others were wounded along with an Afghan.

The troops were killed Monday when an attacker rammed an explosives-laden motorcycle into their patrol in a village near the airfield. The Taliban have claimed responsibility.

The official was not authorized to discuss the incident publicly so spoke on condition of anonymity.

The attack comes just days after Defense Secretary Ash Carter stopped in Bagram. A recent Pentagon report said that violence in Afghanistan has increased.