At least 20 people were wounded in addition to those killed, interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said. Afghan forces killed three of the attackers and freed more than 350 people trapped inside the compound, Danish added. Plumes of black smoke could be seen rising from the compound, with at least two military helicopters circling above. Public works ministry spokesman Mehdi Rohani spoke to AFP as he and his colleagues were fleeing to a safe room shortly after the gunmen stormed the area. The unexpected move stunned and dismayed foreign diplomats and Afghan officials in Kabul who are intensifying a push to end the conflict with the Taliban.

Source: Dhaka Tribune December 25, 2018 03:11 UTC