An explosion has happened near the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology in the center of Kabul at around 11:40 local time on Saturday, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior Affairs, Nusrat Rahimi, confirmed.

The 18-story Russian-made building is surrounded by the Central Post Office, the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Central Statistics Organization's building. The area is always crowded as it is located in the center of the city in Kabul's PD2.

Rahimi said at least three attackers were involved in the attack who entered the compound of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology and are engaged in fighting against security forces.

Eyewitnesses say gunfire and explosions are still heard from the compound of the ministry.

Sources said security forces and ambulances have arrived at the attack scene near the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology and all ways connected to the area have been cordoned off by security forces.

Eyewitnesses said firing is heard from the area.

2:30pm

Kabul Police Chief Sayed Mohammad Roshandil says the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, which is under attack by militants, has been almost evacuated. He says the ministry has at least 2,000 employees.

He said the security forces have entered the building of the ministry and that clearance operation is ongoing.

TOLOnews reporter Tamim Hamid said that he talked with some employees of the Ministry of Communication and IT who were just evacuated from the ministry's building. He said that according to eyewitnesses, many employees of the ministry have been evacuated.

Hamid said that sporadic gunfire is still heard from the building of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.

Wahid Mayar, spokesman for Ministry of Public Health, six wounded have been taken to hospital following the Kabul attack.

3:30pm

Interior Ministry spokesman Nusrat Rahimi said all buildings surrounding the Ministry of Communication and IT have been evacuated.

He said the communication ministry's building has not been completely evacuated but the trapped employees are "safe".

Taliban in a statement rejected any involvement in the attack.

5:00pm

The Ministry of Interior said in a statement that the attack has ended.

Sources confirmed that at least four attackers, who had police and military uniforms, had been killed.

6:00pm

The Ministry of Interior said in a statement that four civilians and three security force members were killed and eight civilians wounded in the attack.

The ministry said the clearance operation has ended and that all the four attackers have been killed.