Move FM Global News

KABUL, Afghanistan – Less than a week after the security situation in Afghanistan was drawn into global focus following the U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to reduce the number of American troops in the war torn country – its capital suffered yet another terror attack.

On Monday night, Afghan authorities revealed that a government office in Kabul was targeted by the attackers, forcing them to rescue and evacuate more than 350 employees.

The attack started on Monday afternoon when a suicide car bomber detonated the explosives-laded vehicle he was driving outside the public works ministry. 

In a statement at the end of the attack, the Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said that the initial explosion was followed by a militant raid on one of the government offices – the National Authority for Disabled People and Martyrs’ Families.

Danish added that after gaining entry into the  building, the gunmen shot at employees and civilians at random, killing at least 28 people and leaving more than 20 others injured.

The gunmen, who were engaged in a violent seven-hour long standoff with the Afghanistan police and security personnel, also took several people hostage during the raid at the government building.

Security services launched a major operation following the raid, as part of which, all floors of the building were searched in a bid to rescue that more than 350 people that were inside the building.

Some witnesses said that several employees working in the building heard the sounds of explosions and gunfire and locked themselves inside their offices. 

Further, local news reports stated that the second floor of the building caught fire during the standoff.

Afghan officials have said that the gunmen killed 28 people, with most of the victims being government employees.

Officials added that a policeman and three of the attackers were killed in the counter attack by Afghan security forces. 

So far, there have been no claims of responsibility for the attack by any militant group.