Suicide bombers launch co-ordinated attack in Afghanistan, killing and wounding dozens

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Dozens of people were killed or wounded when as many as five suicide bombers attacked a police headquarters in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, officials say. Key points: Car bomb explodes, then multiple suicide bombers attack

Doctors say at least five police killed and 30 people wounded

Taliban claims responsibility for attack

The attack began about 6:30am when one bomber detonated a car packed with explosives at the gate of the police headquarters in Gardez city, capital of Paktia province, said Najib Danish, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry. Officials say five attackers were also killed after they stormed a police building in the eastern city of Gardez. The others held out against Afghan special forces that had responded to the attack, he said. READ MORE: 7 US soldiers injured in inside attack at Afghan military camp

Two police officers were killed and five wounded during the attack, Reuters reports, citing Danish. However, doctors at the city hospital said they had received the bodies of at least five police, as well as at least 30 wounded people, including 20 civilians. Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by the Taliban terrorist group, which asserted that at least 100 police officers had been killed, according to Reuters. The Islamist group often exaggerates casualty numbers in attacks against government targets and security forces. Insurgent groups such as the Taliban and Islamic State have launched a string of attacks across Afghanistan in recent weeks. Islamic State claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a mosque in Kabul on Thursday. A massive truck bombing and later suicide attacks left hundreds dead and wounded at the end of May and beginning of June, raising political tensions for the Afghan government, which is struggling to combat rising violence and corruption. Thousands of international troops remain in the country to train and assist Afghan security forces as well as carry out counterterrorism missions. American defence officials say they will decide in the coming weeks whether to send between 3,000 to 5,000 more troops as requested by military commanders.
A coordinated suicide bombing attack on a police station in the town of Gardez in Paktia Province results in dozens of people killed and injured.