Taliban militants have attacked a foreign guesthouse in Kabul’s embassy district, causing several casualties.
\nInitial reports suggested that the Spanish embassy was under attack, but Spain’s prime minister Mariano Rajoy denied this.
\nHe later added that one Spanish police officer died in the attack.
\nThe Taliban say their fighters detonated a car bomb in the Sherpur area and were currently inside a building there.
\nIt is the latest in a series of audacious raids by Taliban fighters on high-profile targets in Afghanistan.
\nCasualties have been brought in to a nearby hospital, and eyewitnesses say a gun battle is still under way.
\nEyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by heavy gunfire on Friday evening.
\nFresh gunfire and explosions were heard early on Saturday morning.
\nIt follows a Taliban attack on Kandahar airport on Tuesday evening in which at least 50 people were killed.
\nAfghan security officials say that seven insurgents are involved in the attack. Both Afghan and Spanish security forces are reportedly at the scene.
\n“There has not been an attack, nor an attempt to carry one out on the Spanish embassy in Afghanistan” Mr Rajoy said.
\n“It was an attack on some guest houses that were very close to the embassy.” he added.
\nKabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told the BBC: ” I can only confirm a suicide car bomb in the Sherpur area at this moment”.
\nFreelance journalist Bilal Sarwary reported seeing two Spanish diplomats fleeing the compound shortly after the attack.
\nHe saw one of them repeatedly bang their head on a vehicle in a show of grief.
\nAfghan police report that the militants had burned several armoured vehicles that they found inside the compound.
\nThe initial explosion left two houses on fire, a police official told the Associated Press.
\n“It’s possible the attackers are hiding. We’ve blocked all the streets and are searching,” he added.<\/p>\n
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