The biggest single attack saw a suicide bomber target a British Embassy car, killing five people, including a British security guard and four Afghans. At least 33 civilians were also wounded in the attack.

Another attack targeted a compound run by a US contractor in the diplomatic quarter, and sparked an hour-long gunbattle. Afghan officials denied any of their fighters were lost in that incident, however.

Several other minor incidents were reported, including an attack on a guesthouse which left three attackers dead and one of the guards for the site wounded.

The Taliban issued a brief statement confirming their responsibility for the assorted attacks, but declined to offer any particular reason why so many attacks were carried out so close together.