KABUL, Jan 26: A wandering cat set off an explosive warning device, set up to protect the grounds of the US embassy here on Friday, an embassy official said on Saturday.

The explosion was heard through much of the embassy’s neighbourhood in eastern Kabul at around 9:45pm (1715 GMT).

Embassy spokesman John Kincannon said the explosion had been caused by a cat triggering a warning device, known as flash-bangs, set up along the embassy’s perimeter to guard against intruders. “The cat lived, but it was a very frightened cat.”

Concern about security is high at the embassy, which is surrounded by large open expanses.—APP