Ghazni Taliban attack kills at least 14 policemen

Bombers attacked last night, after hiding in homes. According to the Afghan sources, the Taliban repelled. The clashes still ongoing. The militants claim to have conquered most of the government buildings.

Kabul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Violent armed clashes and explosions are rocking  Afghanistan again as the Taliban attempt to conquer the provincial capital of Ghazni, 120 km south of Kabul.

The militants have hidden inside homes in various parts of the city. At 2 am they invaded the streets, assaulting security forces and setting fire to numerous shops. At least 14 policemen were killed in the clashes.

Sources of the Afghan state government say that the attack jas been repelled but the clashes are still going on in the areas of Khogyani, Khwaja Omari and Zanakhan. The terrorized population has barricaded itself in their homes and the shops will remain closed. At least two injured civilians were taken to the hospital. There are numerous deaths among the Taliban, still on the streets of the city.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamist group, declares that different parts of Ghazni have been conquered. The Taliban also claim to have killed and wounded at least 14 "enemy forces" and "conquered most of the government buildings".

The attack  is not the only episode of violence in the last hours. The night before last, militants hit the district of Obe, in the province of Herat, killing six policemen at a roadblock. The Taliban have not confirmed their responsibility behind this attack.

These episodes are the latest in a series of attempts by the Taliban to conquer urban centers. In May, militants attacked the western city of Farah.

The clashes continue to be a daily reality in the country already devastated by war and by ISIS terrorist attacks. In June, the Afghan and Taliban forces respected an unprecedented truce for the Eid. The government had proposed an extension of the same, rejected by the rebel Islamist group, which immediately resumed its offensive.

• afghanistan
• attack
• ghazni
• Taliban
• violence
• clashes
• war