Explosions and erratic gunfire rang out Tuesday in an ongoing militant attack on a Kabul charity, which erupted hours after a Taliban double bombing killed at least 24 people and left dozens of others wounded.

At least one person died in the assault on a charity called Pamlarena, which means care in Pashto, but it was unclear if the target was the international charity CARE.

A plume of smoke rose over the upscale neighbourhood of Shar-e Naw after the attack began when a third massive explosion jolted the Afghan capital late Monday.

No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the raid on the charity, but it comes as the Taliban ramp up their nationwide offensive against the US-backed government.

"We believe two attackers have entered the building. Unfortunately one civilian has been killed and six others wounded," Sediqqi told AFP. CARE International was not immediately reachable for comment.

The assault came just hours after high-level officials, including an army general, were killed in the twin blasts near the defence ministry, in an attack apparently aimed at inflicting mass casualties.

The second blast struck just as soldiers, policemen and civilians hurried to help the victims of the first explosion, which occurred on a bridge near the ministry.

Ambulances rushed to the scene, littered with disfigured bodies and charred debris. But there were so many bodies that some had to be taken to hospitals in car boots and the back of police pickup trucks.

Firemen, meanwhile, raced to retrieve some bodies thrown into the Kabul River by the intensity of the first blast on the bridge.

Health ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh said the double bombing left 24 people dead and 91 others wounded, some of them seriously, adding the casualties could rise still further.

The violence highlights the deteriorating security situation in the country, which has taken a heavy toll on civilians.

"The enemies of Afghanistan have lost their ability to fight the security and defence forces of the country," President Ashraf Ghani said on Monday, condemning the twin blasts.

"That is why they are attacking highways, cities, mosques, schools and common people."

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter that the defence ministry was the object of the first attack, while police were targeted in the second.

The violence comes more than a week after 16 people were killed when militants stormed the American University in Kabul, in a nearly 10-hour raid that prompted anguished pleas for help from trapped students.

Explosions and gunfire rocked the campus in that attack, which came just weeks after two university professors -- an American and an Australian -- were kidnapped at gunpoint near the school.

Their whereabouts are still unknown and no group so far has publicly claimed responsibility for the abductions.

The uptick in violence in the capital comes as the Taliban escalate nationwide attacks, underscoring the worsening security situation since NATO forces ended their combat mission at the end of 2014.

Afghan forces backed by US troops are seeking to head off a potential Taliban takeover of Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern opium-rich province of Helmand.

The Taliban have also closed in on Kunduz -- the northern city they briefly seized last year in their biggest military victory since the 2001 US invasion -- leaving Afghan forces stretched on multiple fronts.</s>Image copyright EPA Image caption Smoke could be seen coming from the area of the attack in Shar-e-Naw

An attack on the offices of an international charity in the centre of the Afghan capital, Kabul, has left at least one civilian dead, officials say.

Gunfire erupted when four armed men stormed the building of the aid group Care in the Shar-e-Naw area following a car bomb explosion.

All attackers were killed. No group has admitted carrying out the attack, the fifth to hit the city in 24 hours.

Taliban militants have increased their attacks in Kabul recently.

On Monday, a series of blasts claimed by the group hit a busy part of the city, close to the defence ministry building.

Officials now say 41 people were killed, including an army general and four senior police officers. Some 103 others were wounded, they added.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Security forces blocked streets next to the building attacked in Kabul

Image copyright AFP Image caption Explosion broke glasses in hotel next to charity hit by explosion

The latest incident struck a prosperous business and residential area of Kabul, home to several guest houses and where many foreigners and diplomats live.

A government spokesman told the BBC that six other civilians were injured in the hours-long standoff.

Some 42 people were rescued during the operation, including 10 foreigners, he added.

Traffic was blocked in several parts of the city and schools were closed.

The recent attacks highlight the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, which has left dozens of civilians dead.</s>At least one person has been killed in an ongoing attack on a charity in central Kabul, the interior ministry said Tuesday, after a wave of explosions hit the Afghan capital.

The attack on a charity called Pamlarena began late Monday, hours after a Taliban double bombing killed at least 24 people and left 91 others wounded, said ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi.

Pamlarena means care in Pashto, but it was unclear if the assault was on the international charity, Care.

"We believe two attackers have entered the building. Unfortunately one civilian has been killed and six others wounded," Sediqqi told AFP.

Care International was not immediately reachable for comment.

The attack began after a third massive explosion jolted Kabul late Monday, which was followed by erratic gunfire.

That blast came just hours after high-level officials, including an army general, were killed in the twin blasts near the defence ministry, as the Taliban ramp up their nationwide offensive against the US-backed government.

The violence highlights the deteriorating security situation in the country, which has taken a heavy toll on civilians.</s>The anti-government armed militant groups will likely plot attacks in capital Kabul as Afghanistan will observe the Martyrs Week, the security officials said Wednesday.

Gul Nabi Ahmadzai, commander of Kabul Garrison, told reporters that the militants will use the opportunity more than any other time to stage attacks in the city.

He urged organizers and youths of the country observing the Martyrs Week to remain vigilant and prevent from unnecessary movements in the city and main roads.

Ahmadzai further added that the security forces will continue to step up security arrangements as the militant groups will concentrate to disrupt the security of the capital.

The Martyrs Week is observed every year on 8th September to remember the assassination of Ahmad Shah Massoud who was conferred with the title of National Hero of Afghanistan following his assassination.

The latest alert by the security institutions comes as Kabul witnessed some deadly attacks during the week with the Taliban group claiming responsibility for the back to back explosions.

At least 42 people were killed and over 100 others were wounded in a series of explosions that rocked Kabul city on Monday afternoon and Monday night.

The group initially targeted the security forces near the Ministry of Defense compound with an IED and suicide attack while another coordinated attack took place on the night of the same day.

Follow Khaama Press (KP) | Afghan News Agency on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook. Stay updated via RSS</s>Global charity attacked in wave of violence in Kabul

KABUL: Explosions rang out yesterday during an hours-long attack on an international charity in Kabul, the latest assault in a wave of violence in the Afghan capital that has killed at least 24 people and wounded dozens. The assault on CARE International began late Monday with a massive car bombing, just hours after the Taleban carried out a brazen double suicide attack near the defense ministry.

A plume of smoke rose over the upscale neighborhood of Shar-e Naw after the raid on the charity, located next to the office of Afghanistan’s former intelligence chief Rahmatullah Nabil. It remains unclear which compound was the intended target of the attack, which left piles of rubble and shards of broken glass strewn across the area. “An armed group launched an attack on what is believed to have been an Afghan government compound located close to the Kabul office of CARE,” the charity said, adding that its staff had been safely evacuated.

“The incident continued through the yesterday morning with damages sustained to the CARE compound.” The interior ministry said 42 people including 10 foreigners were rescued and added that no one was killed in the attack, revising its earlier toll of one fatality. “Our new investigation shows… only six people were wounded,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that all three assailants had been gunned down by Afghan forces.

No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the raid on the charity, but it comes as the Taleban ramp up their nationwide offensive against the US-backed government. The attack had been preceded by twin Taleban blasts that killed at least 24 people during the city’s rush hour on Monday, including high-level officials, and left 91 others wounded. The second of the two explosions struck just as soldiers, policemen and civilians hurried to help the victims of the first blast, which occurred on a bridge near the ministry. High-level defense officials were among those killed, including a young military officer-and further compounding the tragedy, his mother also died as soon as she heard of his death.

“Colonel Ahmed’s mother died of a heart attack after hearing of her son’s martyrdom,” former deputy interior minister Ayub Salangi tweeted. “She lost two other sons before him.” Ambulances rushed to the scene, littered with disfigured bodies and charred debris. But there were so many bodies that some had to be taken to hospitals in car boots and the back of police pickup trucks. Firemen raced to retrieve some bodies thrown into the Kabul River by the intensity of the first blast on the bridge.

Rising insecurity

 Health ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh said the casualties from the double bombing could rise still further as some of the wounded battled for their lives in hospital. “The enemies of Afghanistan have lost their ability to fight the security and defense forces of the country,” President Ashraf Ghani said on Monday, condemning the twin blasts. “That is why they are attacking highways, cities, mosques, schools and common people.”

Taleban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter the defense ministry was the object of the first attack, while police were targeted in the second. The violence comes more than a week after 16 people were killed when militants stormed the American University in Kabul. Earlier in August two professors from the university, an American and an Australian, were kidnapped at gunpoint near the campus. Their whereabouts are still unknown and no group has publicly claimed responsibility for the abductions.

The uptick in violence in the capital comes as the Taleban escalate nationwide attacks, underscoring the worsening security situation and the heavy price paid by civilians since NATO forces ended their combat mission at the end of 2014. Afghan forces backed by US troops are trying to head off a potential Taleban takeover of Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern opium-rich province of Helmand. The Taleban have also recently closed in on Kunduz-the northern city they briefly seized last year in their biggest military victory since the 2001 US invasion-leaving Afghan forces stretched on multiple fronts._ AFP
A suicide bomber attacks a charity in the Kabul suburb of Shāre Naw with the Taliban claiming responsibility.