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Kabul military base hit by explosions and gunfire | Kabul military base hit by explosions and gunfire |
(35 minutes later) | |
Militants have attacked an army base near a military academy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing at least five soldiers. | |
A defence ministry spokesman told the BBC that 10 other Afghan soldiers were injured. | |
Five militants were involved, said the spokesman. Four were been killed in the attack, but one was arrested. | |
The attack has been claimed by the Islamic State (IS), according to the militant group's Amaq news agency. | |
It comes days after the deadliest bombing for months hit Kabul when an ambulance packed with explosives killed at least 100 people. | It comes days after the deadliest bombing for months hit Kabul when an ambulance packed with explosives killed at least 100 people. |
Islamic State and the Taliban have increased their attacks on targets in the country in recent days. | Islamic State and the Taliban have increased their attacks on targets in the country in recent days. |
Several explosions were heard, as well as small arms fire, as the attack began at about 05:00 local time (00:30 GMT) at a military base of the Afghan National Army in the west of Kabul. | Several explosions were heard, as well as small arms fire, as the attack began at about 05:00 local time (00:30 GMT) at a military base of the Afghan National Army in the west of Kabul. |
Defence Ministry spokesman Gen Dawlat Waiziri told the BBC two attackers had blown themselves up, two others were killed by security forces and another one was arrested. | |
Four AK-47s, one suicide vest and one rocket-launcher were seized, he said. | |
The president's spokesperson said that none of the attackers had been able to get further than the first gate, Afghan news website Tolo reported. | |
Afghan military institutions are frequently targeted by militants. | Afghan military institutions are frequently targeted by militants. |
'Sandhurst in the Sand' | 'Sandhurst in the Sand' |
The base is next to the Marshal Fahim National Defense University which has been targeted by Taliban militants before. | The base is next to the Marshal Fahim National Defense University which has been targeted by Taliban militants before. |
In October 2017, 15 military cadets were killed in an explosion outside the Marshal Fahim military academy as they were leaving by minibus. | In October 2017, 15 military cadets were killed in an explosion outside the Marshal Fahim military academy as they were leaving by minibus. |
The university is referred to as "Sandhurst in the Sand" as it is closely modelled on the officer training academy in Britain. | The university is referred to as "Sandhurst in the Sand" as it is closely modelled on the officer training academy in Britain. |
The ambulance attack on Saturday took place just one week after another attack on a Kabul hotel killed 22 people - mostly foreigners. The Taliban said it had carried out both attacks. | The ambulance attack on Saturday took place just one week after another attack on a Kabul hotel killed 22 people - mostly foreigners. The Taliban said it had carried out both attacks. |
The Islamic State group said it had carried out an attack on the international charity Save the Children in Jalalabad last week. | The Islamic State group said it had carried out an attack on the international charity Save the Children in Jalalabad last week. |