Afghan official: Attack underway on Afghan forces in Kabul

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Gunmen in Afghanistan stormed a partially constructed building near an intelligence training center on Monday in western Kabul, triggering a gunbattle with security forces as detonations and shooting reverberated from the area.

Rahmat Gul

Afghan security personnel arrive at the site of complex attack at an intelligence training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. An Afghan official says an attack is underway in the country's capital where gunmen have raided and occupied a partially constructed building near the intelligence training center in western Kabul. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

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Afghan security personnel arrive at the site of complex attack at an intelligence training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. An Afghan official says an attack is underway in the country's capital where gunmen have raided and occupied a partially constructed building near the intelligence training center in western Kabul. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

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Afghan security personnel arrive at the site of complex attack at an intelligence training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. An Afghan official says an attack is underway in the country's capital where gunmen have raided and occupied a partially constructed building near the intelligence training center in western Kabul. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

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Afghan security personnel and U.S. forces arrive at the site of a complex attack near an intelligence training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. An Afghan official says the attack is underway in the country's capital where gunmen have raided and occupied a partially constructed building near the intelligence training center. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

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APImages.com

Afghan security personnel arrive at the site of complex attack at an intelligence training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. An Afghan official says an attack is underway in the country's capital where gunmen have raided and occupied a partially constructed building near the intelligence training center in western Kabul. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

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As the firefight unfolded, reinforcements were sent to the district, said Nasrat Rahimi, deputy spokesman for the Interior Ministry.

The gunmen were using heavy weapons, he said, adding that there was no immediate word on casualties. Ambulances were dispatched to the location.

"Initial reports indicate the gunmen are wearing police uniforms," he said. The building where the attackers are shooting from and the nearby training center of the National Directorate of Security are surrounded by Afghan security forces, he added.

Rahimi confirmed the attackers used rocket-propelled grenades and also light weapons.

No militant group immediately has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Earlier, an Afghan official said a Taliban attack on Sunday killed a police officer and wounded three others in western Badghis province.

According to Gulam Haydar Sarwari, the province's deputy police chief, insurgents targeted a police security post in the remote district of Ab Kamari. The slain officer was the district police commander, Sarwari added.

The clash lasted almost four hours before scores of the Taliban attackers were repelled, Sarwari said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility from the Taliban, who have been active in Badghis.

The insurgents have stepped up their attacks against both the Afghan and coalition forces across the country.

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