KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Armed militants in Afghanistan staged a coordinated assault on a key government security agency in the capital Tuesday morning, killing at least 28 people and wounding more than 320. The Taliban has claimed responsibility.
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.
Gen. Abdul Rahman Rahimi, the Kabul police chief, said that at least 28 people were killed in the attack, which began when a suicide car bomber struck near the agency compound’s gates. After the explosion, armed gunmen stormed the compound and waged a prolonged battle with government security forces. Security officials confirmed that the battle has ended.
Ismail Kawasi, spokesman for the Public Health Ministry, said so far 327 wounded, including women and children, have been brought to area hospitals. An Interior Ministry statement said that dozens of civilians were killed and wounded in the attack. The casualty figures are expected to rise.
“This was one of the most powerful explosions I have ever heard in my life,” said Obaidullah Tarakhail, a police commander who was present when the attack began. Tarakhail said he couldn’t see or hear anything for 20 minutes after the initial explosion. “All around was dark and covered with thick smoke and dust,” he said.
Dozens of civilian apartment buildings, houses, shops and several government buildings were damaged by the car bomb blast.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack. 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.”
The attack in Kabul comes four days after another attack by Taliban insurgents in northern Kunduz province which was repelled by the Afghan security forces.
Officials in Kunduz said that security has improved in the city and that the Taliban were defeated in other parts of the province, but operations were still underway to clear militant fighters from the rest of the province.
The Taliban held Kunduz for three days last year before being driven out by a two-week counteroffensive aided by U.S.-airstrikes. It was their biggest foray into an urban area since 2001.
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The legacy of George “Mission Accomplished” W. Bush _______ continues!
The Taliban are losing it. If they want to achieve their goals they can’t do this. The only way they can be defeated is by unifying the Afghans against them. This shit will get that done.
I was watching the movie Max about a war dog returning from Iraq last night with my wife and daughter and when it started out with a scene of soldiers walking into a village with guns across their chest, fingers on triggers and all I could think was, I can’t believe we went into that area and we are still fucking there with no god damn end in sight…what the fuck is wrong with this country. Or more truthfully it’s leaders although a lot of folks keep voting for those kinds of leaders. Probably my biggest gripe against Obama that we’re still there.
It was a pretty cheesy movie btw, not just the theme and canned, predictable plot but the acting. About midway through I was thinking, when they got through and watched it did they really think this was good? Seems typical of so many right leaning movies. And Thomas Haden Church, who I enjoy in the dorky characters he plays in Tarzan and Daddy’s home, was still dork in this movie. Granted part of that may be my mind still seeing him as those characters.