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World|life|May 17, 2017 / 04:31 PM
Gun battle rages at Afghan TV station

AKIPRESS.COM - Afghan security forces are battling gunmen who attacked the state television building in the eastern city of Jalalabad, BBC reported.

Officials say at least three attackers stormed the RTA compound, two of them suicide bombers who blew themselves up.

At least one civilian was killed outside the building. Gunfire has stopped after three blasts inside.

So-called Islamic State has claimed the attack, which is near an IS stronghold on the eastern border with Pakistan.

The Taliban also has a strong presence in the area but the group said it was not involved.

Twelve employees, including the head of the station, were evacuated but others are reported to be trapped in the building, which is near the provincial governor's compound.

The provincial hospital director confirmed to the BBC that at least one civilian had been killed.

A BBC Afghan service correspondent says the death occurred when two motorbikes blew up about 30m (90 feet) away from the building at the start of the assault. At least 16 other civilians were wounded.

There are no casualty figures from inside the building but the BBC has been told a large number of RTA workers managed to escape in the first few minutes.

IS posted its claim on its news outlet Amaq, saying a "commando" operation targeting the broadcaster was under way.

Both the Taliban and IS have conducted a series of high-profile attacks in recent months on targets including Afghanistan's largest military hospital in Kabul and a military base in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif.

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