Kabul, May 17 (IANS): Five Islamic State militants attacked the state-run national TV building in Afghanistan’s eastern city of Jalalabad on Wednesday, leaving six persons including four attackers dead.
The audacious attack on Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) in Nangarhar province ended after about four hours of heavy gun fighting, said government spokesman Attaullah Khogyani.
There were five attackers in all, he told Tolo News. One was a suicide bomber who blew himself up and three were killed by security forces while the fifth was arrested.
The attack, which took place close to the Governor’s house and local police headquarters, started at 10 a.m. after the militants equipped with arms and suicide vests stormed the compound of the TV station.
Khogyani said two civilians, including a security guard of the complex, were killed.
Witnesses said one attacker detonated explosives to enable the others to gain access into the compound.
Early reports said at least 40 people work in the TV station compound and many managed to escape. Some, however, got trapped.
As the fighting raged, the militant group’s AMAQ news agency said on instant messaging service Telegram: “ISIS fighters are currently carrying out an attack inside the state broadcasting building in Jalalabad.”
