Reuters: Most Read Articles: Taliban attack Afghan presidential palace: Reuters witnesses

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Taliban attack Afghan presidential palace: Reuters witnesses Jun 25th 2013, 03:54 Tweet Share this Email Print Related News All assailants in attack on Afghan presidential palace killed: police Mon, Jun 24 2013 Analysis & Opinion Pakistan helps persuade Taliban to meet Americans Karzai balks at U.S. talks with Taliban Smoke rises from the site of an attack in Kabul June 25, 2013. Credit: Reuters/Mohammad Ismail By Mirwais Harooni KABUL | Mon Jun 24, 2013 11:54pm EDT KABUL (Reuters) - Taliban gunmen attacked Afghanistan's presidential palace and surrounding buildings, including the CIA's Afghan headquarters, early on Tuesday, with explosions and gunfire shaking the city center. A Reuters reporter at the palace said the attack began soon after 6.30 a.m. (0200 GMT), when at least one man opened fire with an automatic rifle at a gate to the palace in the central Shash Darak district. Karzai's whereabouts were not immediately known, though he was due to attend a press event at the palace after 9 a.m. (0430 GMT). Reporters had been gathering at the palace when the attack began and dived for cover as government forces returned fire. Heavy explosions resounded and the gunfire intensified. Schoolchildren walking to classes nearby were also caught in the exchanges. The Taliban claimed responsibility the attack in a text message to Kabul reporters from spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. "Today at 6.30 a.m. a number of suicide bombers attacked the presidential palace, defense ministry and the Ariana Hotel," Mujahid said. The Ariana Hotel is known to house the headquarters of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Afghanistan. A thick plume of smoke was seen rising from the building. An Afghan official told Reuters the attackers had made their way into a nearby building from which they were firing. Shash Darak includes the most important buildings in Kabul, including the palace, the headquarters of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan, the Afghan Defense Ministry and the CIA's Afghan station. (Additional reporting by Hamid Shalizi; Writing by Dylan Welch; Editing by Ron Popeski) Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/ Comments (2) Where is Sork Razil when you need him? Jun 24, 2013 11:50pm EDT  --  Report as abuse So much for those peace talks. Jun 24, 2013 12:03am EDT  --  Report as abuse See All Comments » Add Your Comment

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