A group of suspected terrorists stormed a building under construction near the training centre of the Afghan spy agency in Kabul on Monday, triggering a gunbattle with security forces as detonations and shooting reverberated from the area.
As the firefight unfolded, reinforcements were sent to the district, said interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi. “Initial reports indicate the gunmen are wearing police uniforms,” he said.
The attackers were hiding in the structure close to the training centre of the National Directorate of Security in Afshar area and were targeting the centre, eyewitnesses said.
There were no immediate reports of casualties and a large contingent of security forces had surrounded the area.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. “Two IS attackers raid the Afghan intelligence centre in Kabul,” the jihadists’ propaganda arm Amaq reported.
Tolo News channel reported that five to six attackers were in the building and were using heavy weapons against the security forces.
Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said, “The number of attackers, possible casualties and their target is not yet clear.”
Besides the NDS facility, a private university is also located in the area where the attack was underway.