Taliban attack airport in southern Afghan city Kandahar

Several insurgents have taken up position inside a school and are firing at the airport, says governor's spokesperson

KANDAHAR: Taliban insurgents attacked the airport in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Tuesday and were engaged in fighting with security forces, regional officials said.

"Several insurgents (have) taken up position inside a school and (are) firing at the airport," said Sameem Khpalwak, a spokesperson for the local governor. He said there were no reports of casualties and Afghan government forces were returning fire.



Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesperson, said a number of suicide attackers had entered the airport grounds and were fighting security forces.

The attack follows an earlier incident in which two suicide bombers died assaulting a police station in Kandahar, one of the traditional strongholds of the Taliban.