Attack on Afghan government compound kills 28

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL (AA) – Gunmen stormed a government building in Afghanistan’s capital Monday and killed 28 people in a roughly eight-hour standoff with security forces.

A police officer was also killed while at least 20 other people were wounded.

The attack began in the afternoon following a suicide car bombing outside the Ministry of Public Works.

The attackers then stormed the building of the National Authority for Disabled People and Martyrs’ Families and took employees hostage.

Afghan soldiers intervened and a roughly eight-hour siege ensued, during which the attackers were shot dead.

Najib Danish, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, announced after midnight that the siege had ended and security forces had managed to safely evacuate 357 government employees.

Earlier, police spokesman Basir Mujahed told Anadolu Agency that the attackers consisted of five terrorists and a suicide bomber.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.