KABUL: The Taliban launched an attack on the centre of the Afghan capital on Tuesday, hitting Nato’s coalition force headquarters next to the US embassy in Kabul.

The insurgent group said the ongoing assault in Kabul began with a suicide attack targeting local and foreign intelligence in the capital.

Reporters heard a string of loud blasts while police confirmed one explosion and a gunfight close to the heavily-guarded embassy compound.

“Today at one o’clock at Kabul’s Abdul Haq roundabout a massive suicide attack on local and foreign intelligence facilities is ongoing,” said a spokesman for the insurgent group, Zabiullah Mujahid, in a text message to AFP.