Salim Sallhe, spokesman for the provincial governor, said Thursday that the Taliban were behind the massive explosion in front of district governor's compound in Charkh district, 60 kilometers (about 40 miles) east of Kabul, that shook buildings in the area.
Sallhe said the pre-dawn car bombing was part of a Taliban attack on the district compound, and that fighting was ongoing between the police and the Taliban, according to AP.