JALALABAD: Gunmen stormed a government building after multiple explosionsin a continuing attack in Jalalabad on Tuesday, the latest in a series inthe eastern Afghan city.

At least two blasts were heard before the attackers entered the compound ofthe refugees and repatriations department, said Attaullah Khogyani,spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province.

Several foreign organisations are also in the vicinity.

Before the attack began representatives of foreign donors and agencies weremeeting department employees inside the building, Khogyani said.

It is not clear if the meeting was still under way when the attackersentered the compound.

Khogyani said a “large number” of employees had been rescued but there wereno details about how many may still be inside.

“I saw a black Corolla car drop three armed men at the gate of the refugeesand repatriations department,” a witness told AFP.

At least one of the men blew himself up at the gate and two others enteredthe building, the witness said.

An AFP reporter could hear gunfire as security forces swarmed into the area.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which comesthree days after militants raided a midwife training centre in Jalalabad.

Daesh claimed responsibility for Saturday´s attack that left at least threepeople dead and several wounded.

Jalalabad has been the scene of multiple attacks in recent months that havekilled dozens, as US and Afghan forces continue offensives againstmilitants.

Most of the attacks were claimed by Daesh, which has a relatively small butpotent presence in Afghanistan, mainly in the east and north.

Government buildings are a common target.

On July 11 gunmen raided an education department compound in the city,sparking an hours-long battle with security forces.

At least 11 people were killed in the attack. All were employees of theeducation department branch and included the director.

A suicide bomb attack claimed by Daesh on a crowd of Afghan Sikhs andHindus in Jalalabad on July 1 killed 19 people and wounded 21.

Daesh first emerged in Afghanistan in 2014 and quickly established astronghold in Nangarhar.

Intensified aerial and ground operations against the militants have failedto dislodge them. – APP/AFP