Afghanistan attackers launch coordinated attacks

A NATO spokesman confirmed that multiple attacks had occurred across Kabul, potentially in as many as seven locations.


The attacks in the city began at about 1:35 p.m. and were still under way more than three hours later. The Kabul police said the attacks were focused on two areas — one near the Zanbak Square entry to the Presidential Palace and one near the Parliament.


Gunfire and several explosions were reported in the area near the German and British Embassies and a major NATO military camp, usually a heavily guarded area of the city. Hours later, sustained small-arms fire erupted there again, suggesting that the attackers were still holding ground. Rockets also landed near the British and Canadian Embassies and World Bank office.


The last major attack on a diplomatic installation in Kabul was by suicide bombers on the American Embassy that lasted for 19 hours in September and was blamed on the Haqqani network. The attacks on Sunday bore several of the hallmarks of that episode, including teams of attackers seizing buildings and creating siege conditions in some of the most secure neighborhoods of the capital.


"Several suicide bombers launched attacks around different parts of Kabul, including ISAF/NATO headquarters, Afghan Parliament building, and the whole of the diplomatic quarter. The fighting is still ongoing and so far there has been a large loss of the enemy," the Islamist militia said.


NATO's International Security Assistance Force confirmed "multiple attacks across Kabul" in up to seven locations, but said there were no reports of casualties.
The United States embassy went into lockdown, spokesman Gavin Sundwall said, calling it "standard operating procedure."
He said all staff were "accounted for and safe," and that the embassy had no reports of injuries to its personnel.

CNN journalists heard gunfire, explosions and rocket-propelled grenade fire lasting more than an hour in central Kabul on Sunday morning.
The heavily guarded area is frequented by foreigners and is rarely the scene of violence.