15 killed by gunmen, bomb attack on Afghan govt building

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At least 15 people were killed on Tuesday when gunmen and a suicide bomber attacked a government building in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, officials said.

After more than five hours of intense fighting between militants and security forces, provincial government spokesman Attaullah Khogyani said at least 15 people were killed and the same number were wounded.

Provincial health director Najibullah Kamawal said some of the dead were "burned beyond recognition".

The raid began with a suicide attacker blowing up a bomb-laden car at the entrance of the building, as local representatives of foreign donors and agencies were meeting department employees inside.

"About 10 minutes before the end of the meeting we heard an explosion and then gunfire," a government official told AFP.

Several people were taken hostage by the attackers, said Zabiullah Zmarary, a provincial council member.

Security forces swarmed into the area, and a plume of thick black smoke rose into the sky above the compound.

Smoke rises from an area where explosions and gunshots were heard, in Jalalabad City, Afghanistan, July 28, 2018. /VCG Photo

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, though the Taliban issued a statement denying involvement.

Sohrab Qaderi, a member of the local provincial council, said about 40 people appeared to have been caught inside the building, which caught fire early in the attack. As the attack concluded, it was not immediately clear what had happened to them.

Khogyani said the two attackers who stormed the compound were killed.

It is not clear why the militants targeted the refugees and repatriations department, but government buildings are frequently hit.

Jalalabad has been the scene of multiple attacks in recent months that have killed dozens, as US and Afghan forces continue offensives against militants.

Most of the attacks in the city have been claimed by ISIL, which has a relatively small but potent presence in Afghanistan, mainly in the east and north.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters