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Afghan official: Suicide attack followed by gunfire in Kabul Taliban launches attack on Afghan government security agency
(about 1 hour later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — An Afghan official says a possible suicide bomber carried out an attack in Kabul, the capital. The Taliban has claimed responsibility. KABUL, Afghanistan — Armed militants in Afghanistan have staged a coordinated assault on a key government security agency in the capital Tuesday morning, wounding nearly 200 people. The Taliban has claimed responsibility.
Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, said Tuesday that the suicide attack was followed by gunfire, and the area has been surrounded by security forces. The attack, including a suicide car bombing, appears to have targeted an agency similar to the U.S. Secret Service, providing personal protection for high-ranking government officials.
There are fears of casualties, but there is no report on that yet, he added. Ismail Kawasi, spokesman for the Public Health Ministry, said so far 198 wounded people have been brought to area hospitals.
The target of the attack is not known, but the Ministry of Defense and one of the country’s intelligence service’s offices are near the blast site. Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, said Tuesday that the suicide attack was followed by an assault by armed militants. The area has been surrounded by government forces and dozens of ambulances have rushed to the scene.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says the militant group claimed responsibility for the attack. “Security forces are in a fight with an unknown number of armed insurgents right now,” Mohammad Afzel, a police officer at the site of the attack, told The Associated Press.
Taliban insurgents have stepped up their attacks against the security forces since announcing the start of their spring offensive last week. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, and said that a number of their fighters were currently inside the compound battling with security forces.
Taliban insurgents have stepped up their attacks recently since announcing the start of their spring offensive last week.
President Ashraf Ghani issued a statement condemning the attack and saying it, “clearly shows the enemy’s defeat in face-to-face battle with Afghan security forces.”
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.