The assault on such a high-profile target in downtown Kabul raises fresh questions about security as Afghan forces battle a resurgent Taliban for the first time without the aid of NATO forces, who ended their combat mission in December.
Taliban militants launched an assault on the Afghan parliament, triggering gunfire and explosions and sending lawmakers scurrying for cover in chaotic scenes relayed live on television.
The attack came as the Afghan president's nominee for the crucial post of defence minister was to be introduced in parliament and ended two hours later when all seven attackers, including a suicide car bomber, were dead.
The assault on such a high-profile target in downtown Kabul raises fresh questions about security as Afghan forces battle a resurgent Taliban for the first time without the aid of NATO forces, who ended their combat mission in December.
A Taliban suicide bomber and gunmen attacked the Afghan parliament shattering windows, wounding at least 19 people and sending a plume of black smoke across Kabul, as a second district in two days fell to the Islamist group in the north.
Deputy interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said there were seven attackers. Around 15 civilians were wounded in the initial explosion, he said.
The attackers also fired rocket-propelled grenades at the parliament, causing minor damage, he said.
MP Mohammad Reza Khoshak, who was in the chamber at the time, described the moment the first blast struck.
"The session was on and we were waiting for the defence minister nominee...Suddenly we heard a loud explosion, followed by several other smaller explosions," he told AFP.
Latest updates:
14:02 IST Monday, 22 June 2015
Afghan police say parliament attackers killed
12:45 IST Monday, 22 June 2015
Taliban take hold of 2nd district in northern Afghanistan
The second district to fall to the Taliban on Monday was in the northern province of Kunduz.
The Taliban captured Dasht-e-Archi district a day after hundreds of militants fought their way to the centre of the adjacent district of Chardara.
"The Taliban managed to take it over this morning as the area has been surrounded for days," Nasruddin Saeedi, the district governor who escaped to the provincial capital, Kunduz city, told Reuters by telephone.
Mohammad Yusuf Ayubi, head of the provincial council, said the insurgents attacked the district of Dashti Archi from four sides. He said around 150,000 residents of the district were unable to leave.
12:42 IST Monday, 22 June 2015
12:27 IST Monday, 22 June 2015
12:16 IST Monday, 22 June 2015
Six explosions reported in nearby area.
12:14 IST Monday, 22 June 2015
"Several mujahideen have entered the parliament building, heavy fighting is on going," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid posted on Twitter.
"The attack happened at a time when the defence minister was being introduced," he added.
12:10 IST Monday, 22 June 2015
"It was a huge blast that shook the building and shattered windows. We are right now in a safe place," said lawmaker Shukria Barekzai.
(With agency inputs)
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