The Taliban took responsibility for a car bomb attack against a guest home close to the Spanish embassy in Kabul on Friday, and claim the fighting is still going on at the scene.
Gunfire was reported shortly after the explosion in a heavily guarded region of the capital near many foreign embassies and government buildings. Officials report police were at the scene.(1)
A minimum of three insurgence were involved in the attack, according a police official. A Taliban spokesman said the attack was projected at “an invader’s guest home,” according to Reuters.(1)
The Wall Street Journal reports the assault on the Spanish home involved both gunmen and suicide bombers. The explosion was large enough to rock buildings sprinkled throughout the diplomatic district in the city center. The Journal made contact with a Spanish official who verified an “ongoing” security incident.
At least seven people were hospitalized at a health center powered by the aid group Emergency, approximately 700 meters from the Spanish embassy, reads a tweet posted by the organization. Spain’s El Pais newspaper reports two people have been killed in the attack.(1)
The assault was the latest in a string of attacks made against foreign targets in Kabul. The Taliban have increased their insurgency after the withdrawal of international forces from combat operations last year.
The explosion shattered months of peace and minor ease in the Afghan capital, which followed President Ashraf Ghani returning from a regional peace conference in Islamabad intended to breath new life into a peace dialogue with Taliban militants.
The conference was in wake of an insurance attack targeted towards an airport complex city of Kandahar, which killed 50 civilizations and security forces personnel.(1)
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