KABUL, — A series of explosions followed by sustained gunfire shook the Afghan capital on Sunday in what appeared to be a coordinated attack by militants on three neighborhoods frequented by Afghan government officials and their international allies.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the assault in a text message to The Associated Press. He said a group of armed suicide bombers have launched an attack on NATO forces headquarters, parliament and a number of diplomatic residences in Kabul.
There were also attacks in two other eastern cities — Jalalabad and Gardez. There were no immediate reports of casualties from those assaults, but details were sketchy and the fighting was still going on. Mujahid did not provide any information about attacks outside the capital.
There are reports of at least seven large explosions in central Kabul and gunfire 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 news agency rockets had been fired at parliament and the Russian embassy.
Smoke was said to be billowing from the direction of the German embassy.
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.
There are also reports of gunfire from a number of other parts of the capital.
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.
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