Caption:Afghan police arrive as a battle between insurgents and security forces takes place at Kabul's airport early on July 17, 2014. The militant attack was underway at Kabul airport as explosions and gunfire rang out, according to an AFP photographer. AFP PHOTO / SHAH MARAI (Photo credit should read SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images)
Taliban gunmen attack Kabul airport
02:20 - Source: CNN

Story highlights

NEW: Six Taliban insurgents die in the attack

NEW: The were no casualties among Afghan special forces or civilains

The insurgents use heavy and light weaponry

The attack took place around 4:30 a.m. local time

Kabul, Afghanistan CNN  — 

A Taliban attack near Kabul International Airport ended Thursday morning with all six insurgents dead, the Afghan interior ministry said.

The gunmen had taken over a half-completed building in an assault that included explosives, rocket-propelled grenades and machine-gun fire, police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai said

The building where the firefight took place was located in a settlement a few hundred meters outside the grounds of the airport.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the militant group was targeting the military side of the airport.

The assault temporarily halted operations on the civilian side of the facility.

There were no casualties among Afghan security forces or civilians, the ministry said.

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