U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan attacked; Taliban claims responsibility

U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker speaks at a ceremony at the Kabul embassy marking the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

[Update 6:40 a.m. ET] Five suicide attackers are involved in the attack in central Kabul, Reuters news agency quotes a senior Kabul police official as saying.

[Update 6:35 a.m. ET] Militants opened fire near the U.S. Embassy and NATO's International Security Assistance Force headquarters in central Kabul Tuesday after they stormed into a nearby abandoned building, U.S., NATO and Afghan officials said.
The Afghan National Directorate of Security said the firefight with insurgents was on-going.  Militants have fired rocket-propelled grenades and light weapons.
Central Kabul is a high-security area, protected by police and other security forces.
The area has been cordoned off, according to Gen. Mohammed Zahir, the head of criminal investigation for the police.
The Taliban claimed responsibility, a spokesman said.
"Our insurgents attacked in Kabul city," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said.  "Their target is the U.S. Embassy, governmental organizations and other foreign organizations."
There have been a number of recent attacks in Kabul that the Taliban has claimed responsibility for.

[Update 6:17 a.m. ET] The headquarters of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is also under Taliban attack, news reports from Afghanistan say.  The attack appears to involve a number of suicide bombers in Kabul, the BBC reports.

[Update 6:00 a.m. ET] Staff at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul took cover Tuesday as militants fired on the city center from a building they took over a few blocks away, U.S. and Afghan officials said.
The Afghan National Directorate of Security said rocket-propelled grenades have been fired at the embassy.
The area has been cordoned off by police as they battle the insurgents, according to Gen. Mohammed Zahir, the head of criminal investigation for the police.
The Taliban claimed responsibility, a spokesman said.
"Our insurgents attacked in Kabul city," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said.  "Their target is the U.S. Embassy, governmental organisations and other foreign organisations."

[Update 5:50 a.m. ET] Gunmen fired on U.S. Embassy from nearby abandoned building, CNN's Suzanne Malveaux reports from Kabul. Embassy personnel told to take cover, Malveaux reports.

[Update 5:43 a.m.] Militants fired on the U.S. Embassy in central Kabul Tuesday after taking over a building a few blocks away, security officials said.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, a spokesman said.