Taliban attackers stormed an Afghan court and surrounding buildings, killing at least six people and wounding 70 others in the western town of Farah on Wednesday, officials said.
At least four militants who launched the bomb and shooting attack also died in the assault, which comes as NATO winds down its combat mission in the war-torn country by the end of next year.
Two attackers died when they detonated a car bomb at the gate of the provincial court building, two were shot by security forces and another man was still alive, with a firefight still ongoing hours after the assault began.
"Our latest report shows that at least six (other) people have been killed and 70 people have been wounded," Mohammad Akram Khpalwak, governor of Farah province, told AFP.
Agha Noor Kentos, police chief of Farah, said five police were among the wounded as ambulances returned to the scene to take other injured people to hospital.
"At around 8:00 am (0330 GMT) five attackers riding in two military-style vehicles drove to the provincial court building, one (vehicle) detonated at the gate and three attackers entered the building," Kentos told AFP.
"One is still resisting and five security forces have been wounded," he said, adding the target could have been the court or government buildings nearby.
Wakil Ahmad, a doctor at Farah hospital, said medics were treating about 50 wounded people, including 35 civilians, 11 police, two army soldiers, two judges and one court prisoner.
Taliban militants fighting the U.S.-backed central government immediately claimed they were behind the attack.
"Our fighters attacked several government buildings in Farah according to their planned tactic. They conducted the attack with small arms and grenades," the group said on its website.
Abdul Rahman Zhawandon, spokesman for the governor of Farah, said the area had been sealed off as firing continued.
"The attackers entered a provincial appeal court building, security forces have surrounded them, the exchange of fire continues," he said.
"Some attackers entered a Kabul Bank office attached to the court building."
The governor's compound was around 200 meters (yards) away from the scene of attack, an AFP reporter said.
03 Apr, 2013
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Source: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2013/04/03/Taliban-attack-on-afghan-court-kills-six-officials-.html
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