Syrian security forces and firefighters are seen in front of the US embassy in Damascus. Syrian security forces killed three attackers, the government said, after gunmen apparently blew up a car outside the embassy and exchanged fire with Syrian guards today in a bold attack on Damascus' diplomatic neighborhood.

DAMASCUS, Syria — Islamic militants attempted to storm the U.S. Embassy in Damascus today using automatic rifles, hand grenades and at least one van rigged with explosives, the government said. Four people were killed in the brazen attack, including three of the assailants.

No Americans were hurt, and the attackers apparently did not breach the high walls surrounding the embassy's white compound in the city's diplomatic neighborhood.

But one of Syria's anti-terrorism forces was killed and at least 11 others were injured, the country's official news agency reported. The wounded included a police officer, two Iraqis and seven people employed at nearby technical workshop.

A Chinese diplomat also was hit in the face by shrapnel and slightly injured while standing on top of a garage at the Chinese Embassy, China's government news agency said.

A witness said one Syrian guard outside the embassy also was killed, but the government did not confirm that. At the embassy in Damascus, as at most American embassies worldwide, a local guard force patrols outside the compound's walls while U.S. Marine guards are mostly responsible for guarding classified documents and fighting off attackers inside the compound.

Witnesses also said the gunmen tried to throw hand grenades into the embassy compound, shouting "Allah Akbar!" or "God is great!" It was not clear if any of the grenades made it over the walls, which are about 8 feet high.

After today's attack, pools of blood lay splattered on the sidewalk outside the embassy, along with a burned car apparently used by the attackers.

There were conflicting reports of what happened.

Syrian TV said one car was rigged with explosives but never was detonated by the attackers. But one witness said a second car did explode, and TV footage from the scene showed a burned car.

The Syrian Interior Ministry, which is in charge of police, said a fourth attacker now in detention was wounded.

State television said four armed attackers "attempted to storm" the Embassy, using automatic rifles and hand grenades. Syrian security guards attacked the gunmen, killing three and wounding a fourth, TV said.

The attackers came in two cars and parked one that was rigged with explosives in front of the embassy but did not blow it up, state-run TV reported. Explosive experts dismantled the bomb, it said.

But a witness told The Associated Press two gunmen stopped a car on the street in front of the embassy, got out of the car, shot at the Syrian sentries and detonated the car.