US embassy in Kabul under attack - live updates

rockets were fired at the Embassy of U. S. in Kabul, said police in Afghanistan. The Taliban claimed responsibility and said responsibliity that the attackers were armed with rocket launchers, AK-47 rifles and suicide vests

2:10 p.m.

A spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Public Health, said it received 18 people injured, most of which were civilians he said (by Jeremy Kelly in Kabul).

2:05 p.m. An Afghan journalist was reported shot in the leg near the Embassy of the United States. Lotfullah Najafizada Afghan journalist said journalist wounded was shot dead by security forces and Taliban attackers.

Mustafa Kazemi tweets the injured worked for National Television REPOR worked for a state organization.

13:54:

another explosion was not heard of Wazir Akbar Khan, over three hours and a half after the attack began Jeremy Kelly wrote.

tweets Bilal Sarwary

the BBC it was "possibly caused by lack RPG ISAF or the Embassy of the United States."

13:45:

According to the statement of the Taliban (see 13:33) ISAF reports that the Afghan police killed a suicide bomber near as possible the airport in Kabul. It brings to three the total number of sites of attacks confirmed today.

1:43 p.m.

Lauren Katzenberg, who works for Cetenagroup, a communications company in Kabul, Twitter has been an attack details , said he had held before the office of the company on its way to the airport for a meeting in Dubai

explosion right in front of my office in Karte Seh. All directors from outside the office. Pray for my team.

damage to my office, but no one was hurt thank you God. The police surrounding the area.

My personal pieces of the bomber detonated the information through the window, and now the imposition of office floor.

Apparently some members of my staff found suicide will take place in front of our office's second floor. It was pointed at the police station.

suicide bomber walked into our street with two large bags. The police told him to stop and accused the station.

1:39 p.m.

Jeremy Kelly in Kabul, the Taliban has written 10 attackers carried out the attack in Wazir Akbar Khan:

Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, told the Guardian that he chose the unfinished 13-story skyscraper as the site of the attack as "a very large building and targets we could easily attacked by -. ISAF headquarters there, as the Embassy of the United States and NDS [National Directorate of Security] and other government offices "

said was 10 attackers were armed with machine guns, rocket launchers and 82 mm projectiles on his shoulder. He had also said that some suicide vests.

The building remained unfinished for several years, was classified as a likely staging point for attacks by insurgents. Local TV reported that the intelligence agencies of the country had banned the building that was terminated because of concerns that would be used for an incident like today.

13:33:

The Taliban claimed responsibility for attacks in the diplomatic quarter of Kabul and the West, and says he also launched an attack near the airport. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman said:

We have launched attacks on a highway near the airport led to the police and the other two areas in the west against the security forces.

1:29 p.m.

despite reports that militants are surrounded by Wazir Akbar Khan, violence seems to work:

courtneybody

boom and smoke again in the same place, Shash Darak and Jalalabad road .. a block from the embassy and NDS / back of the ISAF. Kabul #

jess_dash

explosion / fire Shash Darak / Abdul Haq Mortars # Kabul?

1:19 p.m.

Colonel Mohammad Sabir, commander of the "ring of steel", which controls dozens of checkpoints around the city said it is too early to say how the attackers beat the men in the building, writes Jeremy Kelly. Sabir said at least one of his men, who were manning a roadblock near the base of the building, was murdered.

1:11 p.m.

NATO-led International Force (ISAF), whose main base is near the embassy U. S. issued a statement saying there was no date as casual.

A small group of insurgents attacked near the embassy U. S. and the International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan headquarters today, shooting from outside the enclosure with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. The attack began around 13:30 (10am GMT).

Afghan security forces and coalition forces responded immediately to the attack, and are still at the scene. Coalition forces are providing air support. There are no reports of casualties ISAF now.

1:08 p.m.:. Jeremy Kelly in Kabul, Afghanistan, said the helicopters are surrounding the building where the remaining militants took refuge in Wazir Akbar Khan

There are unconfirmed reports on Twitter helicopters fire on the building:

combatjournal

/ / URGENT / / The people present at the scene by saying AH-64 Apache helicopters for construction at the moment.

Massoud151

Two ANA [Afghan National Army] helicopter and rifle shooting for construction

24:50:

Jeremy Kelly in Kabul says that the police said two attackers were killed:

police chief of Kabul Mohammad Ayub says Salang Radio and Television of Afghanistan, the two assailants were killed. Two remain, but are surrounded by police. Said an Afghan policeman were killed, another wounded. Three civilians were wounded. He said that the totals are not final.

24:43:

Jeremy Kelly in Kabul, reported another strong explosion in Wazir Akbar Khan, behind the embassy U. S.. UU ..

tweets Bilal Sarwary

the BBC:

RPG

land near the mosque of Wazir Akbar inside an office traders. Unfortunately there are victims. Ambulances on the road

24:32:
Press TV, the news network controlled by the Iranian government, said his office in Kabul "was attacked and several people were injured. "