The bomb went off during the morning rush hour in Kabul when the streets were filled with people, injuring 105 people, including 51 children and five women, government authorities said on Monday.
Mohammad Karim, a police officer present at the site of the attack, said the bomb-laden truck exploded outside a defence ministry building.
At least three fighters had run into a nearby high-rise located near the ministry’s engineering and logistics department, a security official said, leading to a gun battle that lasted more than seven hours.
“Clashes ended with the death of all five attackers,” said interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi, adding that more than 210 people were rescued during the operation.
Taliban claims responsibility
Taliban claimed responsibility, with spokesman Zabuhullah Mujahid saying in a statement that the group attacked “the logistics and engineering centres” of the ministry of defence.
