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| Afghanistan: gunmen storm government building in eastern city | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Gunmen have stormed a government building in Afghanistan’s eastern city of Jalalabad and taken hostages, after a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance gate. | |
| There was no immediate claim of responsibility, though Isis issued a statement denying involvement. | There was no immediate claim of responsibility, though Isis issued a statement denying involvement. |
| One witness, a passerby named Obaidullah, said the attack began when a black car with three occupants pulled up at the entrance to a building used by the department of refugee affairs. A gunman emerged and began firing. | One witness, a passerby named Obaidullah, said the attack began when a black car with three occupants pulled up at the entrance to a building used by the department of refugee affairs. A gunman emerged and began firing. |
| One attacker blew himself up at the gate and two gunmen entered the building, which is in an area close to shops and government offices. Minutes later, the car blew up, wounding people in the street, Obaidullah said. | One attacker blew himself up at the gate and two gunmen entered the building, which is in an area close to shops and government offices. Minutes later, the car blew up, wounding people in the street, Obaidullah said. |
| “We saw several people wounded and helped to carry them away,” he said. | “We saw several people wounded and helped to carry them away,” he said. |
| Eight wounded were taken to city hospitals, officials said. With fighting still ongoing, the number of casualties was likely to climb. | Eight wounded were taken to city hospitals, officials said. With fighting still ongoing, the number of casualties was likely to climb. |
| As security forces cordoned off the area, gunshots and what were thought to be grenade explosions could be heard and a cloud of black smoke drifted into the sky. | As security forces cordoned off the area, gunshots and what were thought to be grenade explosions could be heard and a cloud of black smoke drifted into the sky. |
| Sohrab Qaderi, a member of the local provincial council, said about 40 people appeared to be caught inside the building, which caught fire early in the attack. | Sohrab Qaderi, a member of the local provincial council, said about 40 people appeared to be caught inside the building, which caught fire early in the attack. |
| He said one hostage had called the security services, saying the attackers had ordered people within not to move. | He said one hostage had called the security services, saying the attackers had ordered people within not to move. |
| A provincial government spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, said a “large number” of employees had been rescued after the attack, which happened during a meeting with NGOs working on refugee-related issues. The head of the department and several other people were taken to safety, he said. | |
| Although it is unclear whether there is any direct connection, there has been an increase in Isis attacks as hopes for peace talks between the government and the Taliban have grown in the wake of a three-day ceasefire last month. | Although it is unclear whether there is any direct connection, there has been an increase in Isis attacks as hopes for peace talks between the government and the Taliban have grown in the wake of a three-day ceasefire last month. |
| The attacks have been concentrated in Jalalabad, the main city of Nangarhar province, on the border with Pakistan where Isis fighters first appeared towards the end of 2014. | The attacks have been concentrated in Jalalabad, the main city of Nangarhar province, on the border with Pakistan where Isis fighters first appeared towards the end of 2014. |
| The casualties add to a mounting toll in Afghanistan. In the western province of Farah, 11 people were killed when their bus was hit by a roadside bomb, officials said. | The casualties add to a mounting toll in Afghanistan. In the western province of Farah, 11 people were killed when their bus was hit by a roadside bomb, officials said. |
| Also on Tuesday, unknown attackers seized 22 people from vehicles on a highway linking Kabul and Gardez, a key city in the eastern province of Paktia. | Also on Tuesday, unknown attackers seized 22 people from vehicles on a highway linking Kabul and Gardez, a key city in the eastern province of Paktia. |
| Afghanistan | Afghanistan |
| South and Central Asia | South and Central Asia |
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