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| At least 2 killed in Taliban raid on German consulate in Afghanistan | At least 2 killed in Taliban raid on German consulate in Afghanistan |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Militants have attacked the German consulate in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif, ramming a car packed with explosives into its high outer wall in an assault that media reports said killed at least two people and wounded scores. | Militants have attacked the German consulate in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif, ramming a car packed with explosives into its high outer wall in an assault that media reports said killed at least two people and wounded scores. |
| The bombing was claimed by the Taliban in retaliation for Nato airstrikes last week near the northern city of Kunduz, the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle said. | The bombing was claimed by the Taliban in retaliation for Nato airstrikes last week near the northern city of Kunduz, the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle said. |
| At least two people were killed and 60 wounded, some critically, in Thursday’s attack, according to a local doctor quoted by journalist Bilal Sarwary on Twitter. A nearby market selling carpets was set alight, Sarwary added. | |
| There was no immediate report on whether consulate staff were among the dead or wounded. | There was no immediate report on whether consulate staff were among the dead or wounded. |
| The consulate is located in a large building close to the Blue Mosque in the centre of Mazar-i-Sharif. It is surrounded by high walls and heavily secured. | The consulate is located in a large building close to the Blue Mosque in the centre of Mazar-i-Sharif. It is surrounded by high walls and heavily secured. |
| Nato forces have a large base on the edge of the city. Germany, which is responsible for the Nato presence in northern Afghanistan, has about 1,000 soldiers at the base, with another 1,000 troops coming from 20 partner countries. | Nato forces have a large base on the edge of the city. Germany, which is responsible for the Nato presence in northern Afghanistan, has about 1,000 soldiers at the base, with another 1,000 troops coming from 20 partner countries. |
| A spokesman for Nato forces in the area said troops from the alliance had been sent to the scene. | A spokesman for Nato forces in the area said troops from the alliance had been sent to the scene. |
| The explosion occurred at about 11.05pm local time, according to a spokesman for the German military joint forces command in Potsdam. | The explosion occurred at about 11.05pm local time, according to a spokesman for the German military joint forces command in Potsdam. |
| The German foreign ministry had no immediate comment. | The German foreign ministry had no immediate comment. |
| Last Thursday’s airstrikes in Kunduz, in which dozens of Afghan civilians were killed, were called in when US and local troops came under heavy fire during an operation in which two American service members also died. | Last Thursday’s airstrikes in Kunduz, in which dozens of Afghan civilians were killed, were called in when US and local troops came under heavy fire during an operation in which two American service members also died. |