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Najibullah Ahadi, an adviser to the Afghan president’s office, reports Twitter that the presidential palace, the Ministry of Defense and several public buildings were affected by the explosions in the center of Kabul. There have been reports of several deaths.
A spokesperson for the Kabul health authorities informs the local TV channel 1TVNewsAF that five dead and 21 wounded are confirmed. 14 rockets must have been fired from one or more cars. The Taliban deny any wrongdoing.
The attacks are said to have occurred in various locations in Kabul. 1TVNews reports that the Iranian embassy in Kabul has also been attacked.
Mohammed Alaf Ansari of the Bakhtar state news agency reports that an explosion occurred near the Information Ministry and that several people were killed.
According to local media, at least twelve rockets were fired. AFP writes that its employees in Kabul heard several explosions shortly after the other, reminiscent of the sound of rockets being fired.
Densely populated areas
The explosions took place in densely populated areas of the Afghan capital, including near the so-called green zone in the center of the capital.
A local journalist wrote on Twitter that hospitals and residential areas were affected by the blasts. According to the Twitter message, rocket-propelled grenades were fired from vehicles in the city center.
The explosions take place on the same day that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet with representatives of the Taliban and Afghan authorities in Qatar. The parties are sitting there in historic peace talks.
Reported breakthrough in peace talks
It is not known who is behind Saturday’s attack. The Taliban vowed not to attack urban areas in a deal that means the United States will withdraw from the country earlier than originally planned.
On Friday, AFP reported that peace negotiators in Qatar had made a breakthrough and details of this will be released in the coming days.
In the past six months, the Taliban have carried out 53 suicide bombings and 1,250 explosions that have killed at least 1,210 civilians, the Afghan Interior Ministry said earlier this week.
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