1st LD: 2 killed in car bombing attack on district office buildings in E. Afghan province

At least two persons were killed after a Taliban car bombing and ensuing clash rocked the district headquarters of the eastern Logar province on Thursday, sources said.

The attack started roughly at 05:00 a.m. local time after a Taliban suicide car bombing struck the centre of Charkh district, where the district governor office and police station are located.

"One militant detonated the car bomb, killing two security force members. The second group of gunmen seized a building and began a clash with the security forces," a provincial security source told Xinhua anonymously.

The massive blast damaged several buildings and houses near the site in the provincial capital Pul-e-Alam, 60 km south of Afghan capital of Kabul.

Security forces have cordoned off the area for precautionary measures.

"We have no more details about the casualties as the exchange of fire was still going on. The special operation force units also arrived and further details will be released later on the day," the source added.

Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since early April when the militant group launched its annual rebel offensive in different places of the country, which has claimed hundreds of lives including militants, security personnel and civilians.

The Taliban 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 the government. Endit