Special forces wipe out terrorist gunmen who tried to storm embassy and take hostages

SPECIAL forces troops have killed a gang of terrorist gunmen who tried to storm an an embassy and seize hostages during a daring raid.

By Nick Gutteridge

PUBLISHED: 10:49, Tue, Jan 5, 2016 | UPDATED: 12:18, Tue, Jan 5, 2016

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AFP

Afghan soldiers were involved in a 24-hour gunfight with insurgents

Elite troops rappelled onto the roof of a neighbouring building from helicopters and took out the maniacal terrorists as they worked their way through the corridors.
The dramatic intervention followed a fierce 24-hour firefight with the gunmen, who had fortified themselves in a four-storey building next door to the embassy after failing to get past its security.
But special forces troops still wiped out the three heavily armed terrorists, who had been targeting the Indian Consulate in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif. 

AFP

Afghan men carry out the body of one of the attackers

AFP

The men holed up in a building after trying to attack the Indian embassy

Sarwar Hussaini, a police spokesman in northern Balkh province, said the standoff ended with the successful conclusion of the daring raid late last night.
He confirmed that all three gunmen were killed whilst 10 people were wounded during the clashes, including five civilians who got caught in the crossfire.
No one has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

AFP

Afghan troops carry an injured colleague from the front line

AFP

A sniper takes up his position during the seige

AFP

The building was badly damaged in the firefight

The atrocity is the latest violent act to rock Afghanistan, which is coming under increasing pressure from a resurgent Taliban and the spread of Islamic State (ISIS).
Late last night Saifudin Sahadat, a provincial high peace council chief, was shot and killed by a gunman in northern Samangan province as sectarian violence continues to rumble on in the unstable country.
Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the interior minister, said that the gunman was arrested and would be soon handed over to the judiciary for prosecution.

On a night of horrific violence suicide car bombers also attacked the capital Kabul’s main international airport, ramming their vehicles packed with explosives past security and detonating them.
Two people were killed and another 36 wounded in the terrorist attack, which has been claimed by the Taliban.
The Islamist hate group has been growing in both strength and boldness in recent months, especially in the southern province of Helmand where most British troops were stationed during the 10-year war in the country.