Explosion Rocks Area Near Government Compound in Kabul (PHOTO)

A car bomb exploded not far from Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Works in Kabul; the incident was followed by gunfire, the country's Interior Ministry said on Monday.

Two attackers were killed and about 200 government employees were evacuated from the Ministry of Public Works after fighters attacked the National Authority for People with Disability and Martyrs' Families in Kabul, TOLO News reported, citing an Interior Ministry spokesperson. 

According to spokesman Nusrat Rahimi, several employees of the National Authority for People with Disability and Martyrs' Families were taken hostage. 

Earlier, media reports cited Kabul Police spokesman Basir Mujahid as saying that security forces arrived at the scene and the incident is still underway.

Meanwhile, spokesperson Rahimi added that a number of gunmen had occupied positions in a building close to the site where the car was detonated and started exchanging fire with Afghan security forces.

The Ministry of Public Health stated that two of the injured were hospitalised following the explosion, according to TOLO News.

READ MORE: US Soldier Killed in 'Apparent Insider Attack' in Kabul — NATO

Earlier, The Khaama Press News Agency cited a security official as saying that a suicide bomber detonated explosives close to the National Authority for People with Disability and Martyrs' Families.

کـــــابـــل جـــان ئې
بــیا رالــه پــه ویـــنو ســـــور کو
يا الله خير #Kabul@MalalaiMaiwand1 pic.twitter.com/BhcRCQUMKI

— @Akbar Shinwari (@ShinwariYar) 24 декабря 2018 г.