11 killed in Kabul terrorist attack

A 10-hour stand-off at a lawmaker house in the Afghan capital of Kabul ended, leaving 11 people including three attackers dead, according to police Thursday.

"On Wednesday evening, house of Mir Wali representative of southern Helmand province came under attack in Khoshal Mina locality. One terrorist detonated his suicide vest at the gate, enabling two gunmen to enter the building. Two attackers were killed by security forces during a counter-attack which ended Thursday morning," a police source told Xinhua at the site.

Among the killed were two grandsons of Wali and Hafiz Pason, son of parliamentarian Obaidullah Barakzai, he said.

Witnesses said they had heard three heavy explosions and sporadic firing throughout the night. They said a meeting of provincial security officials and local elders had been underway in the three-story building before the attack.

Two local elders, one child and two security guards of the building also lost their lives.

Lawmaker Mir Wali was among seven injured with no-life threatening wounds, according to the source.

Taliban claimed responsibly for the attack.

The Taliban militants have been on the rampage since April when they launched a so-called annual rebel offensive in different parts of Afghanistan, including the capital of Kabul, killing and injuring hundreds of people.

They urged civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants, in addition to warning people not to support the government.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani issued a statement, strongly condemning the attack.

He also instructed concerned officials to provide best medical treatment for the injured and ordered the authorities to thoroughly investigate the attack, according to the statement.  

source: Xinhua