Security

Afghan forces thwart major attack on Ministry of Interior

AFP

A wounded Afghan girl Seweeta Saberi, 17, receives treatment at Wazir Akbar Khan hospital after militants launched a gun and bomb attack on the Interior Ministry in Kabul on May 30, killing one policeman and wounding at least five people. [Wakil Kohsar/AFP]

A wounded Afghan girl Seweeta Saberi, 17, receives treatment at Wazir Akbar Khan hospital after militants launched a gun and bomb attack on the Interior Ministry in Kabul on May 30, killing one policeman and wounding at least five people. [Wakil Kohsar/AFP]

KABUL -- Afghan forces thwarted a major attack on the Ministry of Interior in Kabul Wednesday (May 30).

Special forces rushed to the scene after the attackers detonated what police said was a car bomb at the first checkpoint leading to the ministry, then tried to fight their way inside.

"The attackers used two vehicles to reach near [the] Interior Ministry compound," ministry spokesman Najib Danish told reporters. "There were eight attackers involved, one detonated his explosives, seven others were killed."

"The situation is under control now," he said, adding there could be more explosions as police detonate suicide vests carried by the attackers.

Wounded Afghan policeman Mujebullah Nabizada, 21, receives treatment as a colleague stands next to him at Wazir Akbar Khan hospital after militants launched a gun and bomb attack on the Interior Ministry in Kabul on May 30, 2018. [WAKIL KOHSAR / AFP]

Wounded Afghan policeman Mujebullah Nabizada, 21, receives treatment as a colleague stands next to him at Wazir Akbar Khan hospital after militants launched a gun and bomb attack on the Interior Ministry in Kabul on May 30, 2018. [WAKIL KOHSAR / AFP]

"The fighting is over, the attackers have all been killed by security forces between the first and second security perimeter," Kabul police chief Daud Amin said.

One policeman and five other people were wounded in the attack -- a toll that would have been far higher if it had not been for the effective response of the security forces.

A security source told AFP there had been multiple blasts, though he could not confirm how many.

The "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack via its Amaq propaganda agency.

Police also said they had found a car stuffed with explosives and guns at Kabul's international airport, which is near the Interior Ministry, on Wednesday.

Taliban attack Pul-e-Alam

Separately on Wednesday, Taliban attackers including a suicide bomber stormed a police station in Pul-e-Alam, capital of Logar Province, killing six police officers.

The bomber detonated an explosive-laden vehicle at the entrance of the police station, provincial police spokesman Shapoor Ahmadzai said.

Three other attackers then rushed into the police station compound, triggering a brief gunbattle with security forces, he said.

"In half an hour security forces killed all the attackers," he told AFP. "Unfortunately, three national police and three traffic police were also killed. Eight civilians have also been wounded."

Shamshad Larwai, the provincial governor's spokesman, confirmed the details and said the situation was under control, but the blast had damaged the police station.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

Meanwhile in Kandahar city, a vehicle bomb went off inside a garage Wednesday, killing three mechanics and wounding 10 people, said Daud Ahmadi, spokesman for the Kandahar provincial governor.

No group immediately claimed responsibility.

Do you like this article?

0 Comment

Comment Policy * Denotes required field 1500 / 1500