Kabul: A Taliban attack on the Afghan parliament Monday ended after all seven militants were killed, the government said.

‘The attack has ended now. Seven attackers were involved—one detonated a car near the parliament building and six were killed by security forces after they entered a nearby building,’ deputy interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish told AFP.

Police evacuated the premises, while trying to fight the gunmen off.

The Taliban say they carried out the attack to coincide with a vote to endorse a new defence minister, Massoom Stanekzai.

No shooting has been heard for several minutes.

At least 18 people are reported to have been wounded in the attack.

Pictures on social media showed parliament full of smoke and people running for cover.