Militants Storm Government Building in Afghan Capital

Militants Storm Government Building in Afghan Capital

Afghan officials say a group of unknown gunmen, including suicide bombers, stormed a government building in Kabul Monday, killing at least 29 people and wounding more than 20 others, VOA news reports.

The toll could rise as police continue to search the smoldering building.

The raid began in the afternoon with a suicide bomber detonating his explosives-packed car outside the building. The power blast enabled his partners to enter the building, which houses, among others, the department for people with disabilities and martyrs’ families.

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish told reporters in Kabul that the building has been cleared after an attack that lasted seven hours.

Officials said more than 200 employees of the department were safely evacuated after the attack started. Other key buildings and departments are also located in the same eastern Kabul neighborhood where the violence erupted.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for Monday’s attack. Taliban insurgents and Islamic State militants have both taken credit for plotting previous attacks in Kabul.

The attack comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to withdraw half of the 14,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.