KABUL - A coordinated Taliban assault on the parliament building in Kabul came to an end with the killing of all eight attackers in one and a half hours gun-battle that killed a woman and a child and injured another 28 civilians, officials said.

Kabul police spokesperson Ebadullah Razin told Pajhwok Afghan News nine women and children and 19 men were among the wounded and some of them were in critical condition.

The Public Health Ministry spokesman said 31 wounded civilians had been delivered at Istiqlal, Emergency and Sadri-Ibni-Sina government hospitals for treatment.

Ismail Kawoosi said the wounded included five women and three children and one of them was struggling for life.

The attack took place after a group of suicide bombers stormed the Wolesi Jirga or lower house of parliament building on the Darul Aman road at around 10:30am.

Kabul police chief Lt. Gen. Abdul Rahman Rahimi said one of the attackers crashed his explosives-laden car against the front gate of the parliament.

Then the remaining attackers tried to force their way inside the parliament building, but security forces beat them back.

“Some fighters entered an under construction building east of the parliament but police chased them and engaged them in a heavy firefight,” he said.

Rahimi said the situation was under security forces control and all the attackers had been killed after one and a half hours fighting.

The Wolesi Jirga was holding a general session where Masoom Stanikzai was introduced as the defence minister-designate for a vote of confidence when the attack occurred.

The Kabul police chief said all the lawmakers remained unhurt. “All members of the parliament were safely evacuated from the building,” Rahimi said.

Lt. Gen. Sher Aziz Kamawal, who is responsible for the parliament security, also said all members of the parliament had been rescued.

Kamawal said a rocket landed on the roof of the parliament building after its gate was targeted by a heavy explosion.

The security commission head of the Wolesi Jirga, Shekiba Hashimi, said some people had suffered casualties, but she had no figures.

“We were safe inside the parliament building, but I am not sure about others outside,” Hashmi added

A Pajhwok reporter at the scene said a number of cars were damaged and windowpanes of nearby houses smashed as a result of the blasts.

A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack in an email received by Pajhwok Afghan News. (Pajhwok)