Afghanistan – (warsoor) – Taliban fighters clashed with security forces following a car bomb blast at a government compound in northern Afghanistan, killing 11 people and wounding dozens more, officials have said.
The attack claimed by the Taliban group on Monday took place at a government facility in Samangan province’s capital Aybak, close to an office of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), the main intelligence agency.
“It’s a complex attack that started with a car bomb,” Mohammad Sediq Azizi, a spokesman for the provincial government, said.
The attack ended after four gunmen died following clashes with Afghan security forces, he added.
Officials said the 11 people killed were security personnel. The province’s health director, Khalil Musadeq, said 43 civilians, including children, and members of the security forces had been wounded in the attack, with the number expected to rise.
“It was a huge explosion that broke all our windows,” said Haseeb, a government employee who gave only one name and works near the site of the attack.
“Many people have been wounded by flying pieces of glass.”
Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said the armed group – who are active in the province and have recently stepped up attacks there – were behind the bombing.
Source: Aljazeera