2nd LD: Gunmen seize building in Afghan capital, target intelligence training center

KABUL, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- An explosion and ensuing gunfight rocked western neighborhood in the Afghan capital city on Monday, witnesses and sources said.

"Gunmen seized an unfinished building after detonating explosives in Afshar locality at around 10:30 a.m. local time (0600 GMT). Casualties were feared as the attackers fired on the nearby intelligence training center by guns and grenade launchers," an eyewitness said.

"The initial information found that at least four attackers are involved in the incident which occurred in Police District 5. The Crisis Response Unit (CRU) special operation forces are responding to the attack now," a police official told Xinhua.

The exchange of fire is still ongoing at around midday. The assailants were carrying AK-47 assault rifles, machine guns and rocket propelled grenades, the source added.

The CRU also rescued scores of civilians from nearby buildings and cordoned off the area for precautionary measures, he said, adding "more details would be made public later as investigation is underway to find more facts about the incident."

No official from Afghan interior ministry and Kabul police were immediately available to make comments.

No group has claimed responsibility yet for the attack, but the Taliban insurgent group routinely claims responsibility for such attacks.

On Dec. 8, seven civilians were killed, six others wounded and several vehicles and buildings were damaged in a bomb attack in the nearby Qala-e-Shada locality. Enditem