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Suicide attack launched in Afghan capital Kabul police try to oust attackers from key building
(about 1 hour later)
A suicide attack has been launched on a traffic police building in the west of the Afghan capital, Kabul. Militants have attacked traffic police headquarters in the west of the Afghan capital, Kabul.
A car bomb detonated outside the office just before dawn, injuring some civilians and police, officials said. Two explosions went off outside the office just before dawn, injuring some civilians and police, officials said.
A number of suicide bombers and gunmen then attacked the building, where fighting is continuing, police said. Gunmen then attacked the building and Afghan forces are now trying to dislodge two militants holed up inside.
The Taliban, which has hit a number of Kabul targets recently, claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message sent to media organisations. The Taliban, who have hit a number of Kabul targets recently, claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message sent to media organisations.
Last week the group attacked the National Directorate of Security in the city centre, killing four guards working for the intelligence services.Last week the group attacked the National Directorate of Security in the city centre, killing four guards working for the intelligence services.
Hours-long attackHours-long attack
In Monday's attack, at least one militant blew himself up outside the traffic police headquarters, police officials told the BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul. The two militants still inside the huge traffic police complex are armed with heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, and have been tossing hand grenades out of windows of the third floor, reports the BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul.
A second attacker was then shot by security forces, but two others were now holed up inside the four-storey building, says our correspondent. Police were trying to prevent them getting on to the roof of the four-storey building.
Afghan Special Forces backed up by foreign special forces were trying to clear the traffic department, Kabul Police head General Ayoub Salangi told the BBC. The attack began when at least one militant blew himself up outside the headquarters, police said.
He said four police and six civilians had been wounded in the attack. A powerful car bomb also went off and a second attacker was shot by security forces.
The insurgents fired rocket propelled grenades as police and paramilitary units made their way inside. Explosions could be heard across the city and black smoke could be seen rising from the upper floors of the building.
Black smoke could be seen coming from a fire on the building's upper floors. Earlier, Kabul Police head General Ayoub Salangi told the BBC that four police and six civilians had been wounded in the attack.
Earlier, local residents said two large explosions which shattered the windows of nearby buildings had been followed by sporadic - and continuing -gunfire. Our correspondent says the strategic location of the traffic department - close to several key police units as well as the country's parliament - suggests it could have been chosen as a launching pad for a more prolonged attack.
Our correspondent suggests the strategic location of the traffic department - close to several key police units as well as the country's parliament - suggests it could have been chosen as a launching pad for a more prolonged attack.
The incident was causing traffic gridlock in certain areas of Kabul - where busy intersections are controlled by police rather than traffic lights - as officers were unable to get to work.The incident was causing traffic gridlock in certain areas of Kabul - where busy intersections are controlled by police rather than traffic lights - as officers were unable to get to work.
Militant groups continue to mount regular attacks in Afghanistan, raising questions as to how the Afghan security forces will cope after international troops leave the country in 2014.Militant groups continue to mount regular attacks in Afghanistan, raising questions as to how the Afghan security forces will cope after international troops leave the country in 2014.
On Monday, Afghans took to Twitter and Facebook to criticise the security services for their inability to prevent such audacious insurgent attacks.