Four Gunmen Killed After Storming Gov’t Compound in Downtown Kabul

An explosion near the Afghan Ministry of Communication and Information Technology rocked the center of Kabul at around 11:40 local time on Saturday, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior Affairs Nusrat Rahimi confirmed.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health told Tolo News that at least six people were also wounded in the attack.

The 18-story Russian-made building is surrounded by the Central Post Office, the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Central Statistics Organization building. The area is always crowded as it is located in the center of the city in Kabul's PD2.

Rahimi said earlier this day that at least three were involved in the attack who entered the Ministry’s compound and engaged in fighting against security forces.

Eyewitnesses said that gunfire and explosions had still been heard at around 2:30pm from the compound of the ministry.

Sources said all ways connected to the area have been cordoned off by security forces.

Kabul Police Chief Sayed Mohammad Roshandil said the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, has been almost evacuated. He said the ministry has at least 2,000 employees.

Wahid Mayar, spokesman for Ministry of Public Health later said that, six wounded have been taken to hospital following the Kabul attack.

Interior Ministry spokesman Nusrat Rahimi said all buildings surrounding the Ministry of Communication and IT have been evacuated.

Taliban in a statement rejected any involvement in the attack.

The Ministry of Interior said in statement that the attack has ended in the afternoon after almost five hours of shootings between the security forces and the attackers.

Sources confirmed that at least four attackers, who had police and military uniforms, had been killed.