Taliban gunmen wearing suicide vests stormed the house of an Afghan lawmaker in Kabul, killing at least five people, according to local media and insurgent sources.
The assailants are reported to have taken an unspecified number of people hostage and the siege continues. Afghan Special Forces have reached the site and engaged the militants, sparking an intense gunfight.
The residence belongs to Malim Mer Wali, a member parliament from the southern Helmand province.
An Afghan security source confirmed to VOA the attackers have "possibly" taken hostages, including family members of Mer Wali and several guests who were at his house at the time.
The fate of the lawmaker is unclear, though local media reports say he was present inside the house but managed to escape.
A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, instantly claimed responsibility, saying the suicide assault was staged when important guests, including key security commanders from Helmand, had gathered in the house.
