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Taliban seize half of Afghanistan's Kunduz city, police say | Taliban seize half of Afghanistan's Kunduz city, police say |
(35 minutes later) | |
Hundreds of Taliban fighters have stormed the strategic northern Afghan city of Kunduz, seizing control of half of it, police say. | Hundreds of Taliban fighters have stormed the strategic northern Afghan city of Kunduz, seizing control of half of it, police say. |
Militants have occupied some government buildings, including a prison, and heavy fighting is continuing. | |
One report said the Taliban had raised their flag in the city centre. | One report said the Taliban had raised their flag in the city centre. |
The government said at least 25 militants and two Afghan policemen had been killed and that reinforcements had been sent to the city. | |
Monday's attack appears to be one of the most significant mounted on a provincial capital by the Taliban, correspondents say. | Monday's attack appears to be one of the most significant mounted on a provincial capital by the Taliban, correspondents say. |
Kunduz police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Husaini told the BBC's Mahfouz Zubaide that militants had captured the jail in Kunduz and freed about 500 prisoners, including members of the Taliban. | |
Kunduz province has seen a number of attacks since April, with the Taliban joining forces with other insurgents. | Kunduz province has seen a number of attacks since April, with the Taliban joining forces with other insurgents. |
Reports said the Taliban attacked the city from three sides at about dawn. A witness told Reuters news agency that by mid-afternoon they had raised their white flag in the city's main square, about 200m (218 yards) from the governor's compound. | |
Battles were raging in two districts close to the compound, the witness said. | |
"The Taliban have taken over our neighbourhood... I can see their fighters all around," an AFP news agency journalist inside the city reported. | "The Taliban have taken over our neighbourhood... I can see their fighters all around," an AFP news agency journalist inside the city reported. |
The city is symbolically significant to the Taliban as it was their former northern stronghold before their government was overthrown in 2001. | The city is symbolically significant to the Taliban as it was their former northern stronghold before their government was overthrown in 2001. |
The assault comes a day after a bomb attack on a sports match in eastern Paktika province killed nine people. | The assault comes a day after a bomb attack on a sports match in eastern Paktika province killed nine people. |
'Fighter selfies' | 'Fighter selfies' |
The Taliban said they had also entered a hospital in Kunduz, although local media reports say they only stayed briefly. | The Taliban said they had also entered a hospital in Kunduz, although local media reports say they only stayed briefly. |
Pictures on social media appeared to show fighters taking selfies inside the hospital. | Pictures on social media appeared to show fighters taking selfies inside the hospital. |
Kunduz province contains major roads that connect central and northern Afghanistan. Correspondents say it also supplies half of Afghanistan's rice crop. | Kunduz province contains major roads that connect central and northern Afghanistan. Correspondents say it also supplies half of Afghanistan's rice crop. |
Militant violence has increased across Afghanistan since the departure of most US and Nato forces last year. | Militant violence has increased across Afghanistan since the departure of most US and Nato forces last year. |
On Sunday, a bomb attack on a sports ground in Paktika left nine dead and dozens injured. No group has said it carried out that attack. | On Sunday, a bomb attack on a sports ground in Paktika left nine dead and dozens injured. No group has said it carried out that attack. |
Also on Sunday, 300 fighters allied to the so-called Islamic State attacked checkpoints in Nangarhar province. | Also on Sunday, 300 fighters allied to the so-called Islamic State attacked checkpoints in Nangarhar province. |
Two policemen were reported killed in the assault, while local officials said 60 militants were killed. | Two policemen were reported killed in the assault, while local officials said 60 militants were killed. |