Death toll in attack at Afghan political office rises to 20

death toll from an attack against office of Afghan president’s running mate and a former chief of intelligence service in Kabul has climbed to at least 20 people, an official said Monday.

Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said that around 50 or people were wounded in Sunday’s attack against Green Trend party hequarters, which lasted hours and included a gun battle between security forces and attackers holed up in building.

Several gunmen were killed by security forces, Rahimi said.

attackers’ potential target, vice presidential candidate and former intelligence chief Amrullah Saleh, was “evacuated from building and moved to a safe location,” Rahimi said. Some 85 or civilians were also rescued from inside.

RE | Blast Rocks Afghanistan President's Running Mate's Office In Kabul, 13 Injured

one immediately claimed responsibility for attack, but both Taliban insurgents and Islamic State group are active in capital and have carried out attacks re in past.

Sunday marked first of Afghan presidential campaign, with a vote scheduled for end of September.

After attack President Ashraf Ghani tweeted that Saleh was unharmed during “complex attack” targeting Green Trend office.

Ferdous Faramarz, spokesman for Kabul’s police chief, said attack started with a suicide car bomber after which or attackers entered into a building and start shooting at security forces.

blast was large eugh to be heard throughout capital.

RE | Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani Claims That His ministration Was Among First To Offer 'unconditional Peace Talks To Taliban'