Taliban suicide bombers target Afghanistan government buildings
Attackers blow themselves up in prisons department and gun battle breaks out near presidential palace Rachel Williams and agencies .. guardian.co.uk 11 February 2009
Suicide bombers and gunmen today attacked government buildings in the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing at least nine people in what appeared to be a coordinated attack.
Two Taliban bombers blew themselves up in the prisons department as a gun battle broke out near the presidential palace.
A policeman at the scene of the suicide bombings told Reuters a third attacker had escaped, while two other suicide bombers were shot dead, one outside the justice ministry and the other near the education ministry.
Government officials said nine people had been killed and another 30 injured. Hundreds of people were seen fleeing the area in panic.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks. A spokesman, Zabiullah Mujaheed, said five fighters had attacked the justice ministry in response to the alleged mistreatment of Taliban prisoners in Afghan government jails.
Mohammad Ali, a ministry employee, said two of the attackers were killed in a gun battle with security officers, while others remained in the building.
Nazir Mohammad, who also works in the justice ministry, said: "I was in my office on the second floor when I heard the sound of a strong explosion on the first floor. I came out of my office to see what was going on and I saw a man with an AK-47 shooting at every employee he saw in the hall. I saw three employees dead, including one of my colleagues."
An Associated Press reporter at the scene said workers were escaping from the ministry building through windows as the shooting continued.
The BBC reported that an attacker still in the justice ministry was believed to be wearing an explosives belt and was holding hostage three people, including a senior ministry official.
The minister of justice said he was safe, locked in his room under armed guard, but was unable to leave the building.
The incidents come at a time of worsening security in the country and a day before Richard Holbrooke, the new US special envoy, is scheduled to visit Kabul.
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