Death toll in Taliban attack on international NGO in Kabul rises to 9





Kabul - The death toll from a Taliban attack on an international non-governmental organization (NGO) in the Afghan capital Kabul has risen to nine, an official said Thursday.



Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said five policemen, one guard and three civilians were killed in the Wednesday attack on Counterpart International, a partner to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 
Rahimi said 20 civilians were also wounded in the attack that lasted almost six hours. The siege ended when police special forces killed all five attackers, an earlier statement by the Interior Ministry said.  
The attack was launched when a car bomb was set off. The assailants then stormed the NGO compound. 
Police rescued nearly 200 workers before the attack was over. 
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and named Counterpart International as the target.
The attack took place just days after a grand assembly of Afghans called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire beginning with the holy month of Ramadan, which started on Sunday.
The Taliban said continuing the "holy war" in the month of Ramadan "has more merit than other months." Peace talks between the United States and the Taliban are continuing in the Qatari capital of Doha.
The attack marks the fifth in Kabul since the beginning of the year. At least 33 people have been killed and more than 260 others wounded so far in 2019.  

Thursday, May 9th 2019
(dpa)
           


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