Suicide bombers, gunmen attack Kabul police stations

KABUL-Agence France-Presse

Suicide bombers and gunmen launched apparent coordinated attacks on two Kabul police stations yesterday, with witnesses reporting on social media that both assaults are still under way.

AFP journalists heard several loud explosions in the heart of the Afghan capital followed by gunfire that was confirmed by Afghan officials and witnesses.

In the first attack, a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a police station in the west of the city, sparking a gunfight between other militants and officers, interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish told AFP.

Ariana TV footage showed a thick plume of black smoke rising into the sky.

“The second attack happened in front of police precinct 10 in Shar-e-Naw in central Kabul,” Danish added.

“Two attackers who tried to enter the police compound were shot dead.”

An AFP correspondent near the scene of the second attack saw a body on the street by the police station and heard several gunshots.

“Two wounded people have been brought to Kabul hospitals from the site of second explosion in Shar-e-Naw,” health ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks that come just over a week after twin blasts killed 25 people, including AFP chief photographer Shah Marai and eight other journalists. Those attacks were claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group.