A week ahead of Afghanistan’s presidential election, Taliban jihadists reportedly attacked the Afghan election commission’s headquarters with heavy rockets and machine guns. NBC’s Richard Engel is live-tweeting the developments from Kabul:
Election commission Spokesperson tells @NBCNews from a safe room that the compound has come under heavy rocket and machine-gun fire.
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) March 29, 2014
#taliban spokesman says "martyrdom seekers have entered the hq of #afghan election commission."
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) March 29, 2014
#Afghan election commission official says all staff accounted for, moved to safe room, but compound still under heavy fire
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) March 29, 2014
#afghan official says 4 attackers firing on electoral commission hq from top floor (4th floor) of nearby unfinished building.
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) March 29, 2014
Heavy security cordon around site of attack on #afghan electoral commission. #kabul #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/Qk9zJsKMc5
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) March 29, 2014
Hearing explosions and gunfire as attack on #afghan election compound continues. #kabul. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/VjxNvlrQEY
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) March 29, 2014
#afghan security forces around election commission hq under attack. More violence expected in run up to vote pic.twitter.com/Ti6D3YPsve
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) March 29, 2014
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Other journalists on the scene:
Looks like one of the stocks of #IEC caught fire, firefighters can't get in #KabulAttack pic.twitter.com/vNpbuUcWz6
— Sultan Faizy سلطان فیضی (@SultanFaizy) March 29, 2014
#Taliban targeting #IEC HQ, gunfires ongoing #KabulAttack pic.twitter.com/QhCeO1rhbr
— Sultan Faizy سلطان فیضی (@SultanFaizy) March 29, 2014
White smoke rising near #IEC office but not sure it's inside #IEC office or outside pic.twitter.com/ro9DbZHy6V
— Mustafa (@DVC_MSTF) March 29, 2014
Security forces arrested this guy, don't know if he is a "terrorist" or not #KabulAttack pic.twitter.com/cI2ORwphik
— AHMAD MUKHTAR (@AhMukhtar) March 29, 2014
Major Taliban attack underway now near the election commission in #kabul #Afghanistan security forces at scene… pic.twitter.com/FsNhT6Vx89
— Stuart Webb (@Worldwidewebb1) March 29, 2014
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