UPDATE - Taliban storm police, intelligence offices in Kabul

UPDATES WITH GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAYING ALL ATTACKERS DEAD, HEALTH SPOKESMAN SAYING 2 CIVILIANS DEAD, 41 INJURED

By Shadi Khan

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - Taliban stormed two major security installations, including a police center and a regional intelligence agency office in the capital Kabul Wednesday, according to an eyewitness and officials.

The 6th district center of Afghan police and the 12th district of the National Directorate of Security were targeted in the attack described by a security source as suicide attacks followed by gunbattles.

Najib Danish, deputy spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, confirmed the ongoing attacks.

Danish told Anadolu Agency at least two attackers stormed the security installations after a suicide car bomb attack. He added that five security personnel sustained minor injuries.

“All attackers have been killed, our security forces are now busy in the clean-up operation,” Danish said later in the evening without disclosing the exact number of the attackers.

An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, said between two and three attackers were involved in the gunbattle with Afghan forces.

Waheed Majroh, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health, said two civilians were killed and 41 others were injured in this attack.

The Afghan Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on its website. According to the militant group, vehicles loaded with explosives attacked the security installations at a time when an important meeting was underway there. It also claimed that several Afghan security personnel had been killed in the attack.