Kabul attacks near Spanish Embassy kills 12

Afghan security forces have killed all the insurgents involved in the attack on a guest house near the Spanish embassy in Kabul, Interior Minister spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Saturday.

Seven civilians and two police officers were wounded, while twelve foreign citizens were rescued by Afghan forces during the operation.

The Spanish government said three Taliban fighters burst into the embassy after the vehicle bomb blew off the gate of the compound, triggering a gunbattle that lasted over an hour.

Fraidoon Obaidi, the head of Kabul’s Criminal Investigation Department, said four attackers were killed in the “terrorist attack”.

Four Afghan and two Spanish police officers were killed in the suicide attack at a guest house near the embassy, officials said.

“It was an attack against some guest houses very near the embassy”, Mr Rajoy said, adding that all embassy staff had been evacuated.

An intense gun battle ensued that caused damage to several buildings. Then everywhere become dark by a smoke. “Thanks God, none of my family member were hurt by the clashes and flying bullets”, he said.

Explosions and gunfire rocked a diplomatic area of central Kabul overnight as security forces tried to flush out Taliban attackers who claimed responsibility for a deadly auto bomb Friday.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Taliban taunted authorities with the “shame and humiliation” of not being able to prevent an attack in the heart of the capital.

Taliban has urged civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants besides warning people not to support government. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the insurgents, said on his Twitter account, “A guesthouse of invaders was targeted”.

The Kabul attack came two days after another massive Taliban attack on the main airport in the southern city of Kandahar, which lasted more than 24 hours and killed more than 50 people.

The Council reiterated its serious concern at the threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) affiliates, and illegal armed groups to the local population, national security forces, and global presence in Afghanistan.