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Afghanistan: Twin blasts hit western city of Herat | |
(40 minutes later) | |
At least four people were killed after twin bomb blasts in the western Afghan city of Herat, including one at the base of a Nato-led reconstruction team. | |
The fatalities occurred after a roadside bomb struck in the city centre, wounding 31 others. | |
In the second assault, a suicide bomber attacked the Italian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) base on the outskirts of the city. | |
The Taliban recently declared a "spring offensive" of attacks in Afghanistan. | The Taliban recently declared a "spring offensive" of attacks in Afghanistan. |
"There was a suicide attack at the gate of Herat PRT and a second in the city centre," Farooq Kohistani, Herat's criminal investigation chief, told AFP. | |
Witnesses at the scene of the PRT base said gunshots could still be heard. | |
At least two suicide bombers were said to have attacked the compound, while a number of attackers tried to get inside. | |
'Busy time' | |
''The first attack was a powerful bomb blast. It happened at a busy place at a busy time. The windows of nearby buildings were broken. I was nearby when the explosion took place," an Afghan intelligence official in Herat told the BBC. | |
Television pictures from Herat showed at least two vehicles destroyed and troops scurrying for cover, Reuters news agency reported. | Television pictures from Herat showed at least two vehicles destroyed and troops scurrying for cover, Reuters news agency reported. |
Italy has about 3,800 troops serving in Afghanistan, the majority of them in the west. | |
The BBC's Quentin Somerville says Herat - a relatively peaceful city near the border with Iran - is due to be soon handed to Afghan control, and so the attack is quite significant. |