​Taliban brazenly attack Afghan parliament building

On June 22, the Taliban launched a suicide bombing campaign and attacked the Afghan National Assembly headquarters in the center of Kabul, causing chaos in the city.

A car caught fire in an explosion near the Afghan Parliament building - Photo: Reuters.

A Taliban suicide bomber blew himself up outside the parliament building, a Kabul police spokesman said, adding that gunmen hiding in a nearby building then opened fire. At least 19 people were wounded, including four women.

Television footage showed black smoke and dust billowing from the parliament building. Police said all Afghan lawmakers had been safely evacuated. “The whole building shook from the explosion, many windows were shattered,” said MP Shukria Barekzai.

Fighting is still ongoing. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group attacked the Afghan parliament building because the Kabul government was holding an important meeting there to introduce the new defense minister.

Observers say the Taliban's easy assault on the parliament building in central Kabul raises doubts about the capabilities of NATO-trained Afghan security forces. Violence has flared up in the country since foreign forces withdrew last year.

The Taliban has continued to launch large-scale attacks in several provinces. Today, the Taliban captured a district in Kunduz province. Before that, the force controlled another district in the province.

According to Reuters/ TTO