British Council in Kabul under Taliban attack
KABUL. August 19. KAZINFORM Taliban militants carried out car bomb and suicide bomb attacks on Britain's cultural center or the British Council compound in the Afghan capital of Kabul early on Friday leaving eight people dead; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
The attack coincided with celebration of Afghanistan's Independence Day amid tight security.
At around 5:30 a.m. local time (0100 GMT), first explosion was heard in Kartai Parwan area, a neighborhood close to the Vice President's house and Kabul Intercontinental Hotel.
Second explosion rocked the area at around 5:50 a.m. local time (0120 GMT) followed by gun shots.
"Eight people, all Afghans, were killed and 10 others sustained injuries and the clash is over," spokesman for the Interior Ministry Sediq Sediqi told Xinhua.
Seven foreign nationals have been evacuated from the compound attacked by insurgents, he said.
However, he did not specify nationalities of those injured in the attack.
A separate news release from NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said one of its service member"died following an insurgent attack in Kabul".
Meanwhile, Zabihullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying a group of militants equipped with car bomb, suicide vests and small arms stormed a British house inflicting huge casualties on Afghans and foreigners.
Afghanistan obtained independence from Britain on August 19, 1919 after three bloody wars.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai described the multiple attacks on British Council as a coward terrorist attack and strongly denounced it; Kazinform cites Xinhua.
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