Afghan police head to the scene of an attack in Kabul on Sunday.
- The hotel is near the presidential palace and the U.N offices
- The Taliban claim responsibility of the attacks
Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Attackers in Afghanistan took over a central Kabul hotel close to the presidential palace, United Nations office and many foreign embassies, a local police official said Sunday.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message to CNN.
CNN journalists heard gunfire, explosions and rocket-propelled grenade fire lasting more than an hour in central Kabul on Sunday morning.
The heavily guarded area is frequented by foreigners and is rarely the scene of violence.
CNN's Masoud Popalzai contributed to this report.
