IS suicide bomber hits TV station in Kabul

A suicide bomber and another attacker struck a local TV station in Kabul on Tuesday, killing at least two guards in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the a male and a female security guard at Shamshad TV were killed in the attack, adding that both attackers were killed by security forces. He said police rescued some of the TV staff as the attack was unfolding but he did not elaborate.

Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Mujro said 21 people wounded in the attack were taken to hospitals.

“The attackers ... had military uniforms on,” said Gen. Salim Hassas. One attacker blew himself up at the gate of the station’s compound while the second reached the second floor of the TV building, where he was killed, Hassas said.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied involvement in the attack. The IS-linked Aamaq news outlet said the Islamic State group was behind the attack, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks militant postings.

Afghanistan’s Islamic State affiliate has carried out several attacks in recent years, mainly targeting the country’s Shiite minority, which the Sunni extremists view as apostates. The IS affiliate is largely made up of disenchanted insurgents who left the much larger and more wellestablished Taliban.