Taliban capture key Afghan city of Kunduz

The Taliban has seized control of the northern Afghan city of Kunduz in one of its most significant gains for years.

Afghan government troops fought to stop the advance but despite a fierce fire fight they were forced to abandon much of the city.

The militants stormed Kunduz, freeing some 700 prisoners from a jail and raising the white Taliban flag in the city's central square.

They cheered and posed for photographs as they celebrated the flag being raised in the city.

The militants have been able to seize vehicles, weapons and ammunition - images and video of which they shared proudly online.

During the Nato-led war the Taliban fought a fierce insurgency but in recent years they have retaken much of the South and West of the country, nearing the capital Kabul.

The fall of Kunduz would be significant as it would be the first provincial capital to be taken by the Taliban since the regime was toppled 14 years ago.

Colonel Richard Kemp, former British Army officer, said:"It's not just a setback, it's a major catastrophe for Afghanistan. That's because it is where it is and what it is.

"This is the first time since the Americans moved into Afghanistan in 2001, in 14 years, when a provincial capital has fallen to the Taliban after a huge amount of very heavy fighting it's now happened. Very, very symbolic."

• Full video report by ITV News correspondent Dan Rivers: