IS militants storm Afghan intelligence centre in Kabul

A siege on an Afghan intelligence agency training facility in Kabul on Monday morning by Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State group has ended following fierce battles between security forces and militants.

"They were well hidden in buildings under construction. We exploded their VBIED and killed two or three of them," a source with the National Directorate of Security (NDS) told AFP.

The group's Amaq news agency said that two of its fighters attacked the Afghan intelligence centre in Kabul, although other sources stated that at least three militants were involved in the siege.

Two police officers were injured in the attack, which has now ended, security forces said.

"Around 10:10am, a group of armed attackers entered an under-construction building in (the) NDS training centre in (the) Afshar area of Kabul," interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish told AFP.

"The fighting is ongoing and we have also launched our operation."

Explosions and gunfire were heard as the militants attacked the centre, which reporters said was being held by the group.

"The fighting is ongoing and we have also launched our operation," said Nasrat Rahim, a deputy interior ministry spokesman.

Kabul has witnessed a spate of attacks in recent months, after an IS and Taliban insurgency.

intensified across the country.

On Sunday, 11 policemen were killed in southern Afghanistan after Taliban militants attacked a checkpoint.