Afghanistan: Toll of Attack on Government Building Hits 43

Local Editor

The death toll in an hours-long coordinated attack on a government building in the Afghan capital climbed to at least 43 people.

Hundreds of people were trapped on Monday on a site where the Ministry of Public Works and other offices are located when gunmen stormed the building and began moving from floor to floor targeting employees.

Others killed included a police officer and three of the attackers, who were shot dead by Afghan security forces, Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said. Another 10 people were wounded in the attack.

The attack began when the suicide bomber blew up his explosives-laden car in front of a government building that houses a public welfare department in an eastern neighborhood of Kabul.

Some of the attackers rampaged through the building of the Ministry for Martyrs and Disabled Persons taking workers hostage, and others fought a prolonged gun battle with local security forces.

Afghan forces evacuated over 350 civilians from the building before calling off the operation on Monday night. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the complex attack that was identical to previous attacks by Taliban insurgents on government offices, foreign buildings, and military bases.

The latest assault came just days after US President Donald Trump said he was considering pulling out at least 5,000 of the 14,000 US troops currently deployed in Afghanistan.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team