The Taliban launched a large-scale attack involving the United Nations in the center of Kabul, Afghanistan, which sparked a five-hour battle with security forces, Reuters reported on Friday. An Afghan police officer was killed and 10 others were wounded during the attack, which began with a suicide car bomb outside a compound used by the International Organization for Migration, (IOM), Afghan police said.
IOM is affiliated with the UN in Afghanistan.
Taliban spokesman Zabuhullah Mujahid told Reuters by telephone that Friday's attack targeted the compound used by the CIA.
The attack comes eight days after six American soldiers and civilians and nine Afghans were killed in a suicide car bombing in Kabul.
After the initial suicide bombings, Reuters reported that six Taliban fighters engaged in a firefight with guards. Two of the militants were killed, and the remaining then entered an unused building near the IOM compound, and fought with Afghan forces, who were supported by Norweigian special forces.
"As a result of the attack, three IOM and one International Labour Organization staff were wounded," Eduardo del Buey told reporters in New York.
Terrorist attacks against civilians, Afghan security forces and government workers have increased since the Taliban announced an offensive last month. NATO-led combat troops are expected to leave the country by the end of next year.
