Global General

6 killed, 10 wounded in explosions, gun battles in Afghan capital

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-18 19:21

KABUL: A series of explosions rocked Afghan capital Kabul Monday as militants penetrated downtown city and targeted important government buildings, leaving six people, including four insurgents dead and 10 others wounded, Defense Ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi said.

A shopping center burns in central Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Jan. 18, 2010. [Agencies]

Those killed in the bloody attacks, according to Azimi, include a child, a police constable and four militants. He also said all those sustained injuries are innocent civilians.

One of the blasts occurred in Pashtunistan Square near the Presidential Palace gate which is close to the Ministry for Justice, Afghanistan's central bank building Da Afghanistan Bank and the five-star Kabul Serena Hotel.

A five-story superstore where militants had holed up was completely burned during the firefight. Two personnel of law enforcing agencies were injured in the Afghanistan's central bank, a police officer at the site said, but he declined to be named.

Azimi said that the operation is over and the situation is under control.

Moreover, a suicide bomber blew himself up next to the Foreign Ministry damaging a newly built shopping mall.

Meantime, witnesses put the number of casualties higher than reported.

A police at the site of the incident told Xinhua on the condition of anonymity that 32 persons were injured in the blasts and fire exchange between militants and security forces.

There are two journalists among those injured in the incident, the police officer said.

According to media report, the Public Health Ministry has confirmed five deaths and 38 injured in the bloody suicide bombings and gun battles.

Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in talks with media via cellular phone from undisclosed location claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying 20 suicide bombers entered the city to target government interests.

All the streets in the capital city are deserted and people prefer to stay indoors.

The Presidential Palace in a statement strongly condemned the attacks and emphasized that the situation is under control.

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in a statement also strongly condemned the coordinated attacks.

The Taliban militants launched a similar attack in February 2009 almost in the same area targeting the Justice Ministry which killed over 20 people, mostly civilians.

A suicide car bomb in Kabul's diplomatic enclave Wazir Akbar Khan district on December 15 left over a dozen dead and injured several others.

6 killed, 10 wounded in explosions, gun battles in Afghan capital

Afghan policemen stand in front of the shopping mall, where Taliban gunmen battled security forces for hours, as the government forces restored control after the attack in Kabul January 18, 2010. [Agencies]