Image copyright EPA Image caption Loud blasts were heard, followed by several hours of fighting

Militants have fired mortars at the diplomatic quarter of the Afghan capital Kabul during a speech by the president to mark a Muslim holiday. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the assault, which came as President Ashraf Ghani was making a speech marking the first day of the Islamic Eid al-Adha holiday, days after offering the Taliban a conditional three-month ceasefire. Nasrat Rahimi, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said the rocket launcher had been destroyed by security forces, who were searching for the perpetrators. Only two people were reportedly hospitalized with injuries from the attack. Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanekzia said Afghan police had noticed a suspicious vehicle earlier on Tuesday morning and followed it to a house near the sprawling Eid Gah mosque where hundreds had gathered to offer their prayers for the Eid al-Adha holiday. President Ashraf Ghani was speaking live on television to celebrate Eid al-Adha when explosions were heard, some of them near the presidential palace. The president can be seen pausing as multiple blasts are heard in the background, some sounding nearby, before stating: "This nation is not going to bow to these rocket attacks."
Mortars are fired at the diplomatic quarter of Kabul during a speech by President Ashraf Ghani. After several hours of fighting, including a helicopter attack on a building behind the Id Gah Mosque, police say the attackers are dead and four people are wounded.