U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan attacked; no casualties reported

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The U.S. Embassy in Kabul came under attack on Christmas morning, and the Taliban later claimed responsibility, saying it had fired four rockets at the American compound.

U.S. officials said that two rounds of either mortar or rocket fire struck the embassy and that no Americans were hurt, the Associated Press reported.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in an email to journalists that the assault “inflicted heavy casualties,” but the group frequently exaggerates the scope of its attacks.

Mujahid claimed that four police officers were killed or wounded when they went to investigate the attack.

Elsewhere, the Associated Press reported, an Afghan official said a bicycle bomb had been remotely detonated in front of a restaurant at a bazaar in Puli Alam, the capital of Logar province, to the east of Kabul, killing six people and wounding 13.

Two of the killed were policemen, said Abdul Wali Tofan, deputy police chief in Logar province. He said the wounded were all civilians, including several children.

Also Wednesday, a Kabul police spokesman said five officers were injured by a remotely controlled bomb planted on a hilltop in eastern Kabul. Hashmat Stanikzai said police later neutralized a remotely controlled missile in the same area and arrested one suspect.