At least nine people died after three gunmen dressed in military fatigues and wearing explosive-laden vests attacked a police station in Afghan capital Kabul, officials said, dpa reported.
The Interior Ministry said that the police station was attacked by three suicide bombers, killing three policemen, an intelligence officer and five civilians, and wounding two policemen and 10 civilians.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. "An Afghan police training ground was the target of our mujahideen," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said.
The militants managed to enter the Kabul District One police station, which is in a crowded market area in the city centre and also close to the presidential palace and other government buildings.
"The first bomber detonated his suicide vest at the gate of the police station, while two others were shot dead by the police," said ministry spokesman Seddiq Seddiqi.
Earlier, he had said there were four suicide bombers.
The assailants were dressed in Afghan military uniforms, said Hashmat Stanekzai, a spokesman for Kabul police.
This was the seventh attack this year in Kabul. Last month, a suicide bomber wearing an Afghan military uniform detonated his explosive-laden vest inside the main military hospital in Kabul, killing six medical students and wounding scores of civilians.
In April, a suicide attacker sneaked past security guards in the Defence Ministry and killed three soldiers.