Early morning attack on Kabul airport foiled

KABUL, Afghanistan 

A five-hour battle at Kabul’s international airport has ended, with six militants killed, the Afghan Interior Ministry has announced.

The attack began at 4 a.m. local time (00.30GMT) on Thursday when a suicide bomber detonated himself at a military base guarding the airport. Insurgents then opened fire with rockets and small arms.

Police General Mohammad Zahir Zahir said the insurgents were unable to cause serious damage although some eyewitnesses said at least two rockets fell inside the airport perimeter. Police sources revealed that at least one policeman was injured.

Deputy Interior Minister General Ayoub Salangi said the insurgents forced their way into a building under construction near the airport to launch the attack. Security forces cleared the building’s fourth floor, he added.

The International Security Assistance Force, known as ISAF, has its operational command at the northern end of the airport. An ISAF spokesman acknowledged the attack and said it would release further details later.

The airport, northeast of the capital, has been hit twice by rocket fire in the past month.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said a group of fighters armed with heavy and light weapons stormed the airport, inflicting “heavy casualties” on security forces.

www.aa.com.tr/en