UPDATE - Interior Ministry comes under attack in Afghan capital

UPDATES WITH CLASHES END, DEATH TOLL, REACTIONS

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - The Afghan Ministry of Interior in the capital Kabul came under attack, according to officials on Wednesday.

The attackers made a bid to enter the main compound of the ministry building following a loud explosion at the first security checkpoint on the main airport road, Najib Danish, the ministry spokesman, told Anadolu Agency.

Danish said one attacker blew himself up at the entrance, killing a policeman and injuring five others.

Later, addressing a news conference at the Government Media and Information Center (GMIC), Danish said up to seven attackers wished to enter the ministry after the initial suicide attack, but all were gunned down by the special guards within an hour.

He added the attackers were heavily armed and disguised as U.S. soldiers riding two armored cars.

In visuals circulating on the social media, the bodies of slain attackers can be seen lying in the ministry building’s premises, wearing military uniforms and having shaved-faces unlike the usually bearded rebels involved in such attacks in Afghanistan.

The police in Kabul confiscated a car packed with explosives a day earlier in the vicinity of today’s attack. Danish said investigations are underway to see if that was linked to the attack on the ministry.

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

Separately, a Taliban-claimed suicide bombing and armed attack on a police station in southeastern Logar province early Wednesday killed three policemen and four attackers, police spokesman Shahpur Ahmadzai said.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed, however, claimed over 30 policemen were killed in the attack.