Thread: Multiple Taliban Raids in Kabul

Taliban launch raids on Kabul and other Afghan targets

15 April 2012

There are reports of attacks in at least seven locations in Kabul

Militants are carrying out what they say are co-ordinated attacks on Kabul and other targets in Afghanistan.

A Taliban spokesman said fighters were attacking embassies in the diplomatic enclave, Nato's HQ and the parliament building in the west of the capital.

Multiple blasts and gunfire have been heard across Kabul.

The Taliban spokesman said there were also attacks in Logar and Paktia provinces. There are also reports of suicide attacks in Jalalabad.

Nato said it had reports of attacks in seven locations in Kabul but there were no reports as yet of any casualties.

Smoke billowing
At least seven large explosions were heard in central Kabul and gunfire erupted from various directions in the heavily barricaded diplomatic zone.

Residents were reportedly running for cover and sirens wailing in the Wazir Akbar Khan district.

Some explosions were also heard near the parliament building in western Kabul and police said it was under attack.

A parliamentary spokesperson told Reuters rockets had been fired at parliament and the Russian embassy.

Smoke was said to be billowing from the direction of the German embassy.

A rocket-propelled grenade was fired into a house used by British diplomats, witnesses told Reuters, with two rockets also hitting a British embassy guard tower.

The Agence France-Presse news agency reports that the newly built Kabul Star hotel is on fire.

Its reporters said they heard the US embassy sounding alarms and warning staff to take cover.

The BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says there are also reports of a suicide attack that has closed the centre of the eastern city of Jalalabad.

Police said suicide bombers had attacked the airport there.

There is normally a surge in the number of Taliban attacks at this time of year following a relative lull in winter, when militants find it more difficult to move around.