Afghanistan's Kabul airport under attack

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Last updated: 17 Jul 2014 01:06

An explosion followed by bursts of gunfire have been heard near Kabul International Airport in the Afghan capital.

Smoke was seen rising above the facility, which is used by civilians and the military.

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Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2014/07/afghanistan-kabul-airport-under-attack-20147171253763942.html

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Heavily armed militants who attacked Kabul International Airport with grenades and automatic weapons have been repelled, Afghan officials say.

The four insurgents who took part are dead, the authorities said, with one security official wounded.

The Taliban said they carried out Thursday morning's attack which lasted for nearly five hours.

Deputy Interior Minister for Security Mohammad Ayub Salangi said the area was "completely cleared".

"The last insurgent has just blown himself up, because he knew [Afghan forces] were on the way to capture him," he said.

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Eyewitnesses said the militants took over an unused under-construction building near the heavily guarded airport.

All flights from the airport were diverted to other Afghan cities.

The militants are believed to have used a car bomb to gain access to the building, says the BBC's Karen Allen in Kabul.

Afghan police and special forces engaged the militants in buildings near the airport.

An interior ministry official told the BBC that the airport itself had not been damaged in the attack, claiming "not a single rocket" had landed inside.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28339526