G4S building bombed by Taliban – 10 dead, 19 wounded in attack on British security group

19 more people were wounded in the attack, which started when a car bomb exploded outside a facility used by the security group. The Afghan interior ministry said “a number of gunmen” entered the G4S site after the bomb went off. The exact number of casualties is still not known as security forces begin their clean-up operation.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

G4S is one of a number of foreign security contractors operating in Afghanistan and provides guards for the area around the British embassy.

A statement from the group said: “We can confirm that there has been an incident at one of our locations in Kabul.

“The situation is ongoing and we are coordinating with Afghan authorities to bring it to a conclusion.”

The Foreign Office said it is aware of the incident and is working with the authorities to establish further details.

The Taliban carry out near-daily attacks on Afghan security forces, and the bombing in Kabul came hours after officials said at least 30 civilians were killed along with 16 Taliban fighters during a battle between government forces and insurgents in southern Helmand province.

Three US service members were killed close to the central city of Ghazni on Tuesday and at least 30 Afghan civilians were killed in a US air strike overnight, officials and local residents said.

Last week, more than 50 people were killed in Kabul when a suicide bomber attacked a banquet hall where a meeting of religious leaders was taking place.

Today’s attack on the G4S compound also came just hours after President Ashraf Ghani outlined plans for peace in Afghanistan.

However the Taliban, who have sent representatives to meetings with US special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, have so far refused to deal directly with the Kabul government, which they consider an illegitimate foreign-appointed regime.