Afghan forces killed five insurgents who were planning to attack Kabul in an early morning gunbattle Thursday just outside of the capital, officials said.

Intelligence agents discovered that the insurgents were massing weapons at a compound east of the city and ambushed the men when they returned to the site around 1 a.m. to prepare for the attack, said intelligence agency spokesman Latifullah Mashal.

A gunbattle broke out and some of the insurgents blew themselves up with explosives, while others grabbed guns and fought back against the intelligence agents. The gunbattle lasted until a few hours after dawn, when the last insurgents were killed, Mashal said.

Mashal had previously said seven insurgents were killed but he corrected his account later to say that there were only five insurgents present. He said the first reports he received had been wrong.

The agents found three cars full of explosives and ammunition in the compound, along with scores rocket launchers and heavy machine guns, Mashal said.