Jalalabad (Afghanistan), Mar 26 (IANS): At least nine people, three policemen and six militants, were killed Tuesday in a suicide attack by suspected Taliban insurgents who stormed a police facility here, an official said.

The attack took place while US Secretary of State John Kerry was visiting Afghanistan, Xinhua news agency reported.

Jalalabad, 160 km from Kabul, is the capital city of the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar.

"Up to six militants armed with suicide vests and weapons launched an attack against Fast-Reaction Police Force compound in Jalalabad city at around 4.30 a.m. local time," a police source in the city told Xinhua.

Three policemen and six militants were killed in the attack, he said, adding that six civilians and two policemen were also wounded.

Afghan security forces sealed off the scene shortly after the attack. The blasts caused a plume of grey smoke to rise above the scene.

No group claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Taliban suspects routinely claim responsibility for such attacks.