Car bomb near Afghan intelligence office kills 11

A car bomb blast near the Afghan intelligence office has killed at least 11 people and injured dozens more, with the Taliban claiming responsibility for the attack.

The incident took place Monday in Aibak, the capital of the northern Afghan province of Samangan, according to government officials. The location is near the office of Afghanistan's Central Intelligence Agency (NDS).

Mohammad Sadiq Azizi, spokesman for the governor of Samangan province, said it was a complex attack that began with a car bomb and ended when all four attackers were killed in an exchange of fire between security forces and the attackers.

Provincial Health Director Khalil Mosaddeq said the attack killed 11 people, including security personnel, and injured 43 others, including security personnel and children.

Haseeb, a government employee who witnessed the attack, said it was a large explosion that shattered windows and injured scores of people.

On the other hand, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that our active group in the province had carried out the attack.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack, accusing the Taliban of trying to strengthen its hand before talks.

Regarding Taliban attacks, local government officials also said that attacks on Taliban checkpoints in different parts of the country last night had killed seven personnel in Badakhshan Province, 14 in Kunduz Province and four in Parwan Province.

Violence has escalated across the country in recent weeks following a dispute between the government and the Taliban over the release of prisoners.