Afghan capital hit by multiple blasts, gun attacks

Gunfire appeared to be coming from various directions in the barricaded diplomatic area of the city, close to both the U.S.
and British embassies, while smoke appeared to be billowing from the nearby German embassy, Reuters witnesses said.


Embassy alarms were sounding.


Attackers also fired rockets at the parliament building, in the west of the city, and at the Russian embassy, a spokesman for the parliament said.


Afghan media said insurgents had stormed the Star Hotel complex near the presidential palace and the Iranian embassy and black smoke was pouring from the building.


The embassies were not immediately available to comment.


The apparently coordinated attack is bound to intensify worry in the run-up to the planned withdrawal of foreign combat troops by the end of 2014.


Attackers also fired rockets at the parliament building, in the west of the city, and at the Russian embassy, a spokesman for the parliament said.


Afghan media said insurgents had stormed the Star Hotel complex near the presidential palace and the Iranian embassy and black smoke was pouring from the building.


The embassies were not immediately available to comment.


The apparently coordinated attack is bound to intensify worry in the run-up to the planned withdrawal of foreign combat troops by the end of 2014.

Afghan security forces, who are responsible for the safety of the capital, were scrambling to reinforce areas around the so-called green diplomatic section of the city centre.