Afghan parliament rocked by a large bomb explosion, when a bomber strikes the Parliament building. The blast took place when the lawmakers were meeting inside to confirm the appointment of a defense minister, police and witnesses said.
The bomb blast shattered the windows of Parliament, wounding at least 19 people and sending a cloud of black smoke across Kabul.
“A suicide bomber blew himself up just outside the Parliament building and several fighters took positions in a building close to Parliament,” spokeperson for Kabul police said.
Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said all the MPs inside parliament were safe. Health Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ismail Kahousi said 18 civilians were wounded, including two women and two children.
The Taliban said in a statement that they carried out a suicide bombing outside parliament. Just down the street, hundreds of children were evacuated from a school.
This is the first year that the Afghan security forces are battling with Taliban without the backing of the foreign troops. The fall of the second district has raised questions about the ability of Nato-trained Afghan security forces to fight with Taliban.
