Taliban attack in Kabul kills 21, including IMF official

The Taliban struck at a restaurant in Afghan capital Kabul and killed at least 21 people, including 13 foreigners and a representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Friday, the police chief said Saturday.

"A total of 21 people, including 13 foreigners, were killed in Friday's attack on the Lebanese Restaurant in Kabul," police chief general Mohammad Zahir told the media.

Zahir said four foreign women and an Afghan woman were among those killed in the attack. At least six people were injured, Xinhua reported.

Meanwhile, the office of the UN mission in Kabul said four UN personnel, including the IMF country representative, were among those killed in the attack.

On Friday evening, three Taliban suicide bombers launched a coordinated attack and opened fire at the restaurant located in street 14 of Wazi Akbar Khan, the diplomatic enclave in Kabul.

One suicide bomber detonated his explosive jacket at the entrance of the restaurant, opening the way for the other two attackers to enter it and shoot at the visitors.

"At least four UN personnel, along with a number of others from other international organisations, are now confirmed dead," the UN statement said.

"The secretary-general condemns in the strongest terms the horrific attack on a restaurant in Kabul Jan 17," said the statement.

The Kabul police chief said citizens from Canada, Russia, Lebanon and the European Union countries were also killed in the attack which occurred at around 7:15 p.m.

The Taliban insurgent group claimed responsibility for the attack.