UPDATE 2 - Female suicide bomber injures 20 in Tunisian capital

REVISES HEADLINE AND NUMBER OF CASUALTIES, ADDS REMARKS

By Adil Essabiti and Gulsen Topcu

TUNIS (AA) – A woman blew herself up in the center of the Tunisian capital Monday, according to the country’s interior ministry.

The explosion targeted a police vehicle on Avenue Habib Bourguiba in Tunis, ministry spokesman Sofian Zaag told Anadolu Agency.

The bomber died instantly, he said.

Several people were wounded in the blast, with the number of injured revised from nine to 20, including 15 police officers and two children, said national security spokesperson Walid Ben Hkima.

Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, who was attending an investment conference in Germany, called the bombing a terrorist attack.

"Terrorism is targeting the prestige of the state. The security forces always pay the price,” he said.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Security forces cordoned off the area following the blast.