Taliban Attack Afghan Parliament with Bomb, Gunfire
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The Taliban attacked the Afghan parliament on Monday, setting off at least one large bomb and igniting a gunbattle with security forces, police and witnesses said.
An Associated Press reporter heard heavy gunfire outside the parliament and saw black smoke billowing from the entrance as ambulances raced to the scene.
Police officer Mohammad Asif said there were four large explosions. Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said there was one explosion, and the Taliban in a statement said they had carried out a suicide bombing.
It was unclear if the other explosions were caused by bombs or grenades.
Taliban insurgents have launched complex attacks on government targets in the capital in the past.
The insurgents have also been advancing across the country's north, capturing two districts of the Kunduz province in as many days.
Mohammad Yusuf Ayubi, head of the provincial council, said the insurgents attacked the district of Dashti Archi from four sides, setting off heavy fighting before seizing full control of the area early Monday. He said local forces suffered casualties but did not have a precise count.
He said around 150,000 residents of the district were unable to leave.
The Taliban confirmed that they had captured the district, as well as ammunition and four tanks, in an emailed statement.
The Taliban seized control of the Chardara district in Kunduz on Sunday. The insurgents attacked the provincial capital, also called Kunduz, in a surprise attack in April and nearly captured the city before Afghan forces pushed them back.
Afghan forces have struggled to fend off Taliban advances since the US and NATO combat mission officially concluded at the end of last year.