HERAT: At least six people were killed while 70 others were injured when Taliban militants stormed a court in the western Afghan town of Farah on Wednesday, officials said.
In the assault, at least four assailants who launched the bomb and shooting attack were also killed.
Two attackers were killed 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, said.
Police Chief of Farah, Agha Noor Kentos, said “At around 8:00 am 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.”
“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.
Taliban insurgents fighting the US-backed central government immediately claimed the responsibility of 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.
DND
