KABUL: Taliban suicide assaults that rocked the Afghan capital Kabul Wednesday killed 16 people, Afghanistan's health ministry spokesman said, in a sharp increase to the toll from the near simultaneous attacks.
Explosions and gunfire echoed through Kabul after the Taliban assaults on two security compounds, as the insurgents ramp up attacks even before the start of their annual spring offensive.
"Unfortunately, 16 people have been killed in the two attacks in Kabul," the ministry's Waheed Majroh said. A further 44 people were also injured in the attacks that struck the Afghan capital around noon on Wednesday, he added.
The carnage underscores rising insecurity from the resurgent Taliban in the war-scarred country.
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