IED event in Kabul, Kabul area, Afghanistan on Tue 25th August 2020

At least three people died, and more than 90 people were critically injured, including dozens of children, after Taliban gunmen launched an attack on a government building in Kabul, Afghanistan. Deadly blast The Taliban detonated a massive car bomb during the morning rush-hour before they left the building and opening fire on security forces. The gunbattle lasted for seven hours, and it ended with all five insurgents killed, according to a report by US News. The Taliban stated that it had targeted a facility of the defence ministry. The attack at the capital came two days after a US special envoy began the seventh round of talks with the militant group in Qatar, as they are aiming to end the war that is in its 18th year. The blast on August 25 sent a massive plume of smoke over the Puli Mahmood Khan district. Special forces cordoned off the area, and sporadic gunfire and explosions could be heard, according to witnesses. Helicopter gunships also flew overhead. Even though three people were confirmed to have died in the blast, the officials warned that the death toll could increase. Around 50 children who were in two schools nearby are among the wounded, as reported by Newsbreak. Spokeswoman Nooria Nazhat said that the children were in the classrooms when the blast shattered the glass windows. An employee at the nearby culture ministry, Zaher Usman, said that when the car bomb exploded, the world "turned upside down." Usman told AFP news agency that when he opened his eyes, the office was filled with smoke and dust and everything was broken. He also heard his colleagues screaming. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said that by attacking civilians, the Taliban was guilty of a crime against humanity. Back in May, the Taliban attacked the Kabul office of a US aid group. The attack resulted in five deaths and 24 wounded people