Taliban attacks Kabul embassies
Source: Agencies |
April 16, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
The Taliban launched a series of attacks across the Afghan capital yesterday, targeting Western embassies, NATO bases and the parliament. Militants also launched near-simultaneous assaults in three other cities.
At least two assailants were killed and five people wounded in Kabul, where fighting was still raging hours after it began. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility, saying in a statement that scores of suicide bombers were carrying out strikes in the capital and three other provinces - Paktia, Nangarhar and Logar.
The Kabul attack began in the afternoon with explosions in the central neighborhood of Wazir Akbar Khan, where a NATO base and a number of embassies, including that of the United States, are located. Gunfire erupted soon after the blasts, forcing people in the street to scramble for cover.
More than 10 explosions in all rocked the city, and heavy gunfire crackled across the rooftops for hours.
Mujahid said the attacks were targeting NATO headquarters, the British and German embassies, the Afghan parliament building, the Serena and Kabul Star hotels, and sites along Darulaman road, where the Russian Embassy is located. At the same time, Taliban fighters launched assaults on Afghan and NATO installations in the capital cities of the three provinces, he said.
"In all these attacks, tens of mujahedeen fighters equipped with light and heavy weapons, suicide vests, RPGs, rockets, heavy machine guns and hand grenades are attacking their targets," Mujahid said.
He said the insurgent group had planned the assault for two months to show the extent of their power after being called "weak" by NATO forces. "We are strong and we can attack anywhere we want," he said.
The US Embassy said there were attacks "in the vicinity of the embassy." The German Foreign Ministry said there was some damage to the grounds of the embassy, but it did not appear anyone had been hurt.
Militants holed up in a building under construction were firing rockets in different directions. It was not immediately clear what they were targeting, but shots appeared to be focusing on the nearby British Embassy.
"We can confirm that there is an ongoing incident in the diplomatic area of Kabul," a British Foreign Office spokeswoman said. "We are in close contact with embassy staff."
Across town, residents reported a blast near parliament as militants took over a nearby building and opened fire.
Mohammad Nahim Lalai Hamidzai, a lawmaker from Kandahar, said he opened fire from parliament on a building where militants were hiding.
"I shot up to 400 or 500 bullets from my Kalashnikov at the attackers," Hamidzai said.
Militants also launched mortars at international military bases on Kabul's outskirts. A joint Greek-Turkish base came under heavy fire.
In what NATO said was an unrelated attack, an international service member was killed by a bomb in the east yesterday.
At least two assailants were killed and five people wounded in Kabul, where fighting was still raging hours after it began. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility, saying in a statement that scores of suicide bombers were carrying out strikes in the capital and three other provinces - Paktia, Nangarhar and Logar.
The Kabul attack began in the afternoon with explosions in the central neighborhood of Wazir Akbar Khan, where a NATO base and a number of embassies, including that of the United States, are located. Gunfire erupted soon after the blasts, forcing people in the street to scramble for cover.
More than 10 explosions in all rocked the city, and heavy gunfire crackled across the rooftops for hours.
Mujahid said the attacks were targeting NATO headquarters, the British and German embassies, the Afghan parliament building, the Serena and Kabul Star hotels, and sites along Darulaman road, where the Russian Embassy is located. At the same time, Taliban fighters launched assaults on Afghan and NATO installations in the capital cities of the three provinces, he said.
"In all these attacks, tens of mujahedeen fighters equipped with light and heavy weapons, suicide vests, RPGs, rockets, heavy machine guns and hand grenades are attacking their targets," Mujahid said.
He said the insurgent group had planned the assault for two months to show the extent of their power after being called "weak" by NATO forces. "We are strong and we can attack anywhere we want," he said.
The US Embassy said there were attacks "in the vicinity of the embassy." The German Foreign Ministry said there was some damage to the grounds of the embassy, but it did not appear anyone had been hurt.
Militants holed up in a building under construction were firing rockets in different directions. It was not immediately clear what they were targeting, but shots appeared to be focusing on the nearby British Embassy.
"We can confirm that there is an ongoing incident in the diplomatic area of Kabul," a British Foreign Office spokeswoman said. "We are in close contact with embassy staff."
Across town, residents reported a blast near parliament as militants took over a nearby building and opened fire.
Mohammad Nahim Lalai Hamidzai, a lawmaker from Kandahar, said he opened fire from parliament on a building where militants were hiding.
"I shot up to 400 or 500 bullets from my Kalashnikov at the attackers," Hamidzai said.
Militants also launched mortars at international military bases on Kabul's outskirts. A joint Greek-Turkish base came under heavy fire.
In what NATO said was an unrelated attack, an international service member was killed by a bomb in the east yesterday.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
