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Afghanistan: German consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif attacked Afghanistan: Fatal attack on German consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif
(about 11 hours later)
A suicide bomber has rammed a truck into the German consulate in the Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif, killing at least two people, officials say. A suicide bomber has rammed a truck into a German consulate in Afghanistan, killing at least four civilians and wounding 120, officials said.
Reports described a huge blast at the diplomatic mission followed by gunfire. Gunman attacked the building after the blast, in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, battling with German and Afghan forces.
A hospital official said more than 80 people were hurt in the attack, which happened around 23:00 (18:30 GMT). The Taliban said it carried out the attack in retaliation for air strikes last week in Kunduz province.
The Taliban says it carried out the attack in response to coalition air strikes earlier this month in Kunduz which killed civilians. Local police said at least one suspect had been arrested in connection with the bombing.
Nato is investigating the incident in the northern city, which happened when Afghan troops surrounded by Taliban militants called in air support. 'Massive damage'
Thirty civilians died in the fighting, many of them in the air strikes, local officials said. A Nato spokesman said there was "massive damage" to the consulate.
Helicopters
The German diplomatic mission is in a walled compound in the centre of Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province.
Germany has nearly 1,000 troops in Afghanistan, most of them in Balkh province.
A Nato spokesman said there was "massive damage" to the consulate. Nato troops were on site and preparing to evacuate its personnel.
At least one car packed with explosives was rammed into the wall surrounding the compound, the spokesman said. Officials were also investigating whether a second car bomb was involved.At least one car packed with explosives was rammed into the wall surrounding the compound, the spokesman said. Officials were also investigating whether a second car bomb was involved.
Reports on social media said helicopters were flying over the compound and ambulances rushing through the city. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that the fighters had been sent "with a mission to destroy the German consulate general and kill whoever they found there", Reuters reported.
The attack comes amid a worsening security situation in Afghanistan. Taliban militants came close to over-running Kunduz in October before being driven back. All German consulate staff were "safe and uninjured", the German foreign ministry said, adding that troops were on site preparing to evacuate staff.
Germany leads the Nato diplomatic mission in northern Afghanistan and has nearly 1,000 troops stationed in the country.
The mission operates from a walled compound in the centre of Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province.
President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack.
Nato said it was investigating the air strikes in Kunduz, cited by the Taliban. Afghan troops reportedly called in air support after being surrounded by Taliban militants.
Some 30 civilians, including women and children, were killed in the incident, local officials said.