Suicide bombers, gunmen launch coordinated attack on U.S. embassy, NATO headquarters in Kabul

By Ernesto Londono and Javed Hamdard,
WashPost
Updated: Tuesday, September 13, 5:07 AM

KABUL -- Suicide bombers and gunmen launched a coordinated attack on the U.S. embassy and NATO headquarters in Kabul Tuesday afternoon, witnesses and security officials said, a rare and sophisticated strike in the heart of the fortified capital.

The Taliban sent a text message to reporters claiming responsibility for the attack. There were no immediate reports on casualties, as Afghan security forces sought to fight back.

U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Kerri S. Hannan said in a phone interview that embassy personnel had been ordered to take cover in hardened structures. It was not clear whether all embassy personnel were accounted for. Hannan said she had no further details to provide.

The phone number for the NATO press office was not being answered.

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