Dozens killed in Kabul as Taliban attack

An explosion rocked the Afghan capital of Kabul on Tuesday morning targeting a security team that protects government VIPs, a police official told CNN.

Kabul's police chief said at least 28 people died. More than 300 were wounded, according to authorities.

Despite the target, most of the victims were civilians, which include women and children,

A suicide bomber detonated a vehicle filled with explosives in a private parking lot behind the compound, destroying the back wall of a building. A second attacker then entered the building, the attacker died in a gun battle with security forces less than two hours later.

The Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to the statement, A suicide bomber blew up his explosives-laden lorry on the gate of the department and then other armed attackers went in and started shooting on the rest of the enemies.

Witnesses confirmed that the attack occurred in a busy part of Kabul near the Afghan Defense Ministry and presidential palace.

Afghan journalist Esmatullah Kohsar tweeted photos of windows at his office being shattered by the blast and pictures of his room after the blast with some update on the twitter

Esmatullah Kohsar ‏@EKohsar 13h13 hours ago

Kabul blast: my office windows totally broke.

 

Add My room after Kabul suicide attack in Pul-e-Mahmood Khan.caption

 

  Esmatullah Kohsar ‏@EKohsar 13h13 hours ago

1. Kabul blast updates: sources say suicide bombers attacked one of the NDS compounds in Kabul PD 2, I can hear heavy gunshots in the area.

   0 retweets 1 like
2. Esmatullah Kohsar ‏@EKohsar 13h13 hours ago

   Kabul blast updates: I can hear heaven gunshots in the area, initial/unconfirmed reports say insurgents attacked an NDS office.

   1 retweet 0 likes
4. Esmatullah Kohsar ‏@EKohsar 13h13 hours ago

   Kabul blast updates: I can hear gunshots now in the area after suicide bombing took place.

   
   

   Afghan women's rights activist Wazhma Frogh also tweeted she was arriving at work near the site of the attack when the blast happened. In her tweet she said there are schools in the explosion area and parents running to the doors to take their children.

   According to the news, the attack comes a week after the Taliban declared the start of a spring offensive, designed to employ all means at our disposal to bog the enemy down in a war of attrition that lowers the morale of the foreign invaders and their internal armed militias.

   Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack and said in a tweet it clearly shows the enemy's defeat in face-to-face battle with government forces.

   
   

   
   

   ارگ Verified account ‏@ARG_AFG

   Today's terrorist attack near Pul-e-Mahmud Khan, #Kabul clearly shows the enemy's defeat in face-to-face battle with ANSDF

   
   

   The U.S. Embassy in Kabul also denounced the attack.