Explosion, gunfire near hospital rocks Kabul in second recent attack

KABUL, Afghanistan — A loud explosion, followed up by heavy gunfire, was heard in the capital city of Kabul near government buildings on Friday afternoon around 4 p.m local time.

An Associated Press cameraman who witnessed the explosion said the blast occurred near a hospital for Afghanistan’s intelligence agency, the National Security Directorate. International aid agencies are also located in the area.

There are no reports yet on casualties.

The explosion is the second in Kabul in recent weeks. On May 16, the group Hizb-e-Islami claimed responsibility for an attack that killed two U.S. contractors, two U.S. service members and a number of Afghan civilians. Dozens more were wounded in the blast.