Taliban forces launched coordinated attacks on the Afghan government’s prisons directorate, justice and education ministries in Kabul today, killing at least 26 and wounding 57 others. At least eight suicide attackers were involved in the attack, in addition to an unknown number of gunmen.

The high profile attacks sewed panic across the city and once again underscored the vulnerability of the government to the resurgent Taliban. The attackers reportedly sent text messages to Pakistan before beginning their strikes, to a person the Afghan intelligence chief described as “their mastermind.”

All of the attackers were said to be between the ages of 20 and 25. At least 21 have been detained in connection with the incident. Analysts say that the incident may “undermine Washington’s faith in the Afghan government to provide security and could push them to send many more troops.” President Obama is expected to decide within days which strategy of escalation he intends to pursue in Afghanistan.

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