At least three suicide bombers and five police have died in an attack on a police headquarters in eastern Afghanistan.

Today's attack, claimed by the Taliban, began when one bomber detonated a car packed with explosives at the gate of the police headquarters in Gardez city, capital of Paktia province, said Najib Danish, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry.

Four more attackers stormed the gate after the blast, with at least two quickly killed by police. The others held out against Afghan special forces that had responded to the attack, he said.

Deputy governor of the province Abdul Wali Sahi confirmed that five police officers were killed and 15 people were injured, including civilians.

Doctors at the city hospital said they had received the bodies of at least five police, as well as at least 30 wounded people, including 20 civilians.