At least eight employees of Bagram airbase were killed Monday night after a group of unidentified gunmen ambushed them on their way to work, Bagram officials said on Tuesday.

According to Bagram district governor Abdul Shokor Qudusi, unknown gunmen opened fire on them on Monday night at around 10:30pm.

“Those killed and injured were assigned to the gate for checking and they were unarmed,” said Qudusi. 

Three other employees were injured in the attack.

Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack 

Meanwhile a number of Bagram residents expressed concerns over the growing security threats in the area. 

“I heard the firing and then we stayed at home,” said Sayed Rahman, a resident who lives close to the scene.

Residents are concerned about the sharp increase of militant groups, criminal cases and the presence of illegal armed men in Bagram district. 

“There are a lot of illegal armed men operating here; thieves and wayward persons disturb the people,” said a resident of Bagram Mohammad Nasir Sharifi.

Meanwhile, security forces in Bagram have said they arrested a 17-year-old boy after he tried to carry out a bombing against foreign troops at the entrance of Bagram airbase last Tuesday.

Bagram Airbase is the biggest U.S military base in the country and is located about 40km from Kabul.