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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 11 soldiers. | Militants have attacked an army base near a military academy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing at least 11 soldiers. |
Sixteen other Afghan soldiers were injured, a defence ministry spokesman told the BBC. | |
Five militants were involved, said the spokesman. Four were 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. | The attack has been claimed by the Islamic State (IS), according to the militant group's Amaq news agency. |
Earlier reports said the attack had taken place at the Marshal Fahim National Defense University, which is near the military base. | |
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. |
IS 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 the military base of the Afghan National Army in the west of Kabul. | |
Two attackers blew themselves up, two others were killed by security forces and another one was arrested, defence ministry spokesman Gen Dawlat Waiziri told the BBC. | |
Four AK-47 assault rifles, one suicide vest and one rocket-launcher were seized, he said. | |
The president's spokesperson said none of the attackers had been able to get further than the first gate, Afghan news website Tolo reports. | |
Afghan military institutions are frequently targeted by militants. | Afghan military institutions are frequently targeted by militants. |
A surge in violence | A surge in violence |
The base is near the Marshal Fahim National Defense University which the Taliban have targeted 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 sometimes referred to as "Sandhurst in the Sand" as it is closely modelled on the officer training academy in Britain. | The university is sometimes referred to as "Sandhurst in the Sand" as it is closely modelled on the officer training academy in Britain. |
Monday's deadly attack is the third in just over a week to have rocked the country. | Monday's deadly attack is the third in just over a week to have rocked the country. |
On Saturday, more than 100 people were killed in a suicide bombing when attackers drove an ambulance past a police checkpoint into a district with many government buildings and embassies. | On Saturday, more than 100 people were killed in a suicide bombing when attackers drove an ambulance past a police checkpoint into a district with many government buildings and embassies. |
One week earlier, another attack on a Kabul hotel killed 22 people - mostly foreigners. Six militants stormed the hotel in suicide vests the attack continued for several hours until Afghan troops regained control of the building. | One week earlier, another attack on a Kabul hotel killed 22 people - mostly foreigners. Six militants stormed the hotel in suicide vests the attack continued for several hours until Afghan troops regained control of the building. |
The Taliban said it had carried out both those Kabul attacks. | The Taliban said it had carried out both those Kabul attacks. |
IS said it had carried out a suicide attack on the international charity Save the Children in the city of Jalalabad last week. | |
Three members of staff and at least two others were killed in the attack and the siege of the compound. | Three members of staff and at least two others were killed in the attack and the siege of the compound. |