Taliban attack in Kabul kills 28, injures at least 200

KABUL, Afghanistan, April 19 (UPI) -- The Afghan Taliban has taken responsibility for a suicide attack Tuesday in Kabul that killed at least 28 people and injured 200 near government buildings.

A suicide bomber detonated a car bomb at the Pul-e-Mahmud residential neighborhood near the Ministry of Defense, military compounds and other buildings during morning rush hour before gunmen stormed the area, Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said. After a gunfight, the area was cleared by Afghan security forces.

The attack comes one week after the Taliban warned of large-scale attacks -- launching a "spring offensive."

Afghanistan's main security agency appeared to be the target, President Ashraf Ghani said, also condemning the attack "in the strongest possible terms."

"Such cowardly terrorist attacks will not weaken the will and determination of Afghan security forces to fight against terrorism," a presidential palace statement read.

NATO's U.S.-led Resolute Support coalition mission in Afghanistan said it expressed "deepest condolences to those affected by this contemptible act of violence."