By . Hayley Peterson and Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 00:00 EST, 9 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:37 EST, 9 March 2013 . A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a gate of the Afghan Defense Ministry in Kabul on Saturday shortly after U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel arrived in the country on an official visit, according to Afghan officials. At least nine civilians were killed and fourteen others wounded when a suicide attacker on a bicycle hit the main entrance to the defense ministry, officials said. Hagel was in a meeting at a U.S.-led military coalition facility in Kabul at the time of the blast and he was unharmed, a Pentagon spokesman said. In a statement, the Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for the . attack and said it was 'a kind of message' for Hagel. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel walks with U.S. Marine General Joseph Dunford, commander of the International Security Force, upon Hagel's arrival near Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan . Safe: U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, seen on a flight en route to Afghanistan, is in a safe location and unharmed . Reporters traveling with Hagel were in a briefing when they heard the explosion, and were moved to a lower floor of the same building, according to the Associated Press. The blast was followed by the sound of heavy gunfire. Hagel, who was confirmed as Pentagon chief last week, arrived in Afghanistan for his first official visit on Friday. On the day of his arrival, three men wearing Afghan army uniforms . and driving an army vehicle forced their way onto a U.S. base in eastern . Afghanistan and opened fire, killing a contractor and wounding U.S. troops. 'We are still at war,' Hagel said Friday, discussing the challenges ahead in drawing down U.S. troops in the country. 'That transition has to be done right, . it has to be done in partnership with the Afghans, with our allies,' he said. 'Our country as well as Afghanistan, the region, and the . allies have a lot at stake here. And our continued focus and energy and . attention on Afghanistan is going to be very important.' Arrival: Hagel (second right) steps off a helicopter upon his arrival near Camp Eggers in Kabul . There are currently 66,000 U.S. military . personnel in the country, and that number is scheduled to be cut in . half by early next year. 'Even as we move into more of a support role, this remains a dangerous . and difficult mission,' Hagel said in a statement to U.S. forces, which was issued upon his arrival in the country. 'Many of you will continue to . experience the ugly reality of combat and the heat of battle.' Hagel told reporters on a flight en route to Afghanistan that he wanted to go to the country to 'see where we are.' 'I need to better understand what's going on,' he said.
Chuck Hagel arrived in the country on Friday for his first official visit as Pentagon chief. He was unharmed by the attack .
Afghan Taliban claims responsibility for the attack and says it was meant as a warning for Hagel .
At least eight civilians were reported dead in the immediate aftermath of the blast .
The U.S. is scheduled to cut in half the number of military personnel in the country by early next year .
By . Hayley Peterson and Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 00:00 EST, 9 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:37 EST, 9 March 2013 . A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a gate of the Afghan Defense Ministry in Kabul on Saturday shortly after U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel arrived in the country on an official visit, according to Afghan officials. At least nine civilians were killed and fourteen others wounded when a suicide attacker on a bicycle hit the main entrance to the defense ministry, officials said. Hagel was in a meeting at a U.S.-led military coalition facility in Kabul at the time of the blast and he was unharmed, a Pentagon spokesman said. In a statement, the Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for the . attack and said it was 'a kind of message' for Hagel. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel walks with U.S. Marine General Joseph Dunford, commander of the International Security Force, upon Hagel's arrival near Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan . Safe: U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, seen on a flight en route to Afghanistan, is in a safe location and unharmed . Reporters traveling with Hagel were in a briefing when they heard the explosion, and were moved to a lower floor of the same building, according to the Associated Press. The blast was followed by the sound of heavy gunfire. Hagel, who was confirmed as Pentagon chief last week, arrived in Afghanistan for his first official visit on Friday. On the day of his arrival, three men wearing Afghan army uniforms . and driving an army vehicle forced their way onto a U.S. base in eastern . Afghanistan and opened fire, killing a contractor and wounding U.S. troops. 'We are still at war,' Hagel said Friday, discussing the challenges ahead in drawing down U.S. troops in the country. 'That transition has to be done right, . it has to be done in partnership with the Afghans, with our allies,' he said. 'Our country as well as Afghanistan, the region, and the . allies have a lot at stake here. And our continued focus and energy and . attention on Afghanistan is going to be very important.' Arrival: Hagel (second right) steps off a helicopter upon his arrival near Camp Eggers in Kabul . There are currently 66,000 U.S. military . personnel in the country, and that number is scheduled to be cut in . half by early next year. 'Even as we move into more of a support role, this remains a dangerous . and difficult mission,' Hagel said in a statement to U.S. forces, which was issued upon his arrival in the country. 'Many of you will continue to . experience the ugly reality of combat and the heat of battle.' Hagel told reporters on a flight en route to Afghanistan that he wanted to go to the country to 'see where we are.' 'I need to better understand what's going on,' he said.
shortly after U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel arrived in the country on an official visit, according to Afghan officials. At least nine blast and he was unharmed, a Pentagon spokesman responsibility for the . attack and said it was confirmed as Pentagon chief last week, arrived in Afghanistan for his first official visit on . personnel in the country, and that number is scheduled to be cut in . half by early next year.