Alwaght- Gunmen stormed a government building in Afghanistan’s eastern city of Jalalabad on Tuesday, taking dozens of hostages after a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance gate.
Nangarhar provincial government spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told AFP news agency that gunmen had stormed the city's refugees and repatriation department compound after a blast. At least eight people have been wounded, he said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, though the Taliban issued a statement denying involvement and a spate of deadly attacks on the city in recent weeks has been seen as a show of force by the ISIS terrorist group.
A gun battle is now under way between security forces and the attackers, provincial officials said.
One witness, a passerby named Obaidullah, said Tuesday’s attack began when a black car with three occupants pulled up at the entrance to a building used by the department of refugee affairs and a gunman emerged, firing around him, Reuters reported.
One attacker blew himself up at the gate and two gunmen entered the building, in an area close to shops and government offices, he added.
Minutes later, the car blew up, wounding people in the street, Obaidullah said.
"We saw several people wounded and helped to carry them away,” he added.
Eight wounded have been taken to city hospitals, officials said, but with fighting still going on, the number of casualties is likely to climb.
Provincial government spokesman Attaullah Khogyani said the attack happened during a meeting with NGOs working on refugee-related issues. The head of the department and several other people were taken to safety, he said.
