Burqa-clad men storm Afghan police HQ

Three male suicide attackers wearing burqas on Friday stormed a police headquarters near the Afghan capital Kabul, killing one policeman, according to officials.

The militants stormed the police base in the Sarobi district, 50 kilometers east of Kabul, Agence France-Presse reported.

One suicide attacker died when he exploded a vehicle bomb outside the police base entrance. Three other militants covered in burqas, typically worn by women, were also shot dead.

Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility for the two-hour attack.

“Today at about 6:20 am, a suicide bomber driving a minivan detonated himself at the entrance gate of the Sarobi police headquarters,” General Mohammad Zahir, Kabul province's police chief, told AFP.

“Three other terrorists clad in women's burqas entered the courtyard of the building and started firing and resisting the police and army forces.

“As a result of the attack, one officer was killed and three others were wounded.”

Male militants have previously used the all-enveloping burqa to disguise themselves and evade security checks in Afghanistan, including in a 2012 attack when four French troops were killed.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the insurgents, who were ousted from power in 2001, were behind Friday's attack.

“The mujahideen fighters were equipped with heavy and light weapons and suicide vests, and caused heavy casualties to the enemy,” he said in an emailed statement.

Sarobi, on the main road between Kabul and Jalalabad city, is a volatile district in a region seen as key to protecting the capital.

(With AFP)