Taliban attack near Spanish embassy in Kabul kills 7

Ten people, including two Spanish police officers, died in a Taliban attack on a Spanish Embassy compound in the Afghan capital and an ensuing gun battle, a almost 12-hour incident that ended early Saturday and represented a new show of force by the insurgents.

The attack started with a vehicle bomb that shook houses throughout the Shir Pur neighborhood, home to many diplomats and prominent Afghan officials, and ended when Afghan police killed the last of the attackers, who had been holed up in the guesthouse for seven hours, Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid said.

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

The Taleban claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack, saying the target was a foreign guest house.

In a statement, the terror group taunted the Afghan authorities’ “disgrace” at being unable to prevent the attack in the heavily protected part of Kabul – home to several embassies and government buildings.

– September 13-14, 2011: At least 15 people are killed in a brazen Taliban attack targeting the USA embassy and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation headquarters, which raged for 19 hours in a hail of rockets, grenades and suicide blasts.

“Police force arrived at the site shortly after the attack, and launched a counter-offensive against the terrorists”, the ministry said.

Commenting on the tragedy, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Friday the explosion had not been directed against the embassy itself, but a nearby guest house.

11 suicide attackers breached the high-security complex, which also houses a joint NATO-Afghan base, taking families hostage and triggering fire-fights with soldiers.

Earlier this week, Taliban militants killed at least 50 civilians and security personnel in a coordinated attack on Kandahar airfield.

“The members of the Security Council reiterated that no violent or terrorist acts can reverse the path towards Afghan-led peace, democracy and stability in Afghanistan, which is supported by the people and the Government of Afghanistan and by the worldwide community”, the statement concluded.

The attack follows a deadly 27-hour Taliban siege of Kandahar airport this week as the militants ramp up attacks. Mr Ghani asked during a press conference on Friday. “Expecting us to surrender and come for talks is foolishness”.