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Afghanistan: Twin blasts hit western city of Herat Afghanistan: Twin blasts hit western city of Herat
(30 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. At least five people were killed and about 30 wounded after twin bomb blasts struck the Afghan city of Herat.
The fatalities occurred after a roadside bomb struck in the city centre, wounding 31 others. The fatalities occurred after a roadside bomb in the centre of the city, which is not far from the western border with Iran.
In the second assault, a suicide bomber attacked the Italian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) base on the outskirts of the city. In the second assault, a suicide bomber attacked the Nato-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. 'Several attackers'
Witnesses at the scene of the PRT base said gunshots could still be heard. An Afghan intelligence official in Herat said the first attack was a "powerful" bomb blast.
At least two suicide bombers were said to have attacked the compound, while a number of attackers tried to get inside. "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," he told the BBC.
'Busy time' Witnesses at the scene of the PRT base said gunshots could still be heard. It is not yet clear if there are more casualties.
''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. At least two suicide bombers were said to have attacked the compound, while a number of insurgents tried to get inside.
Television pictures from Herat showed at least two vehicles destroyed and troops scurrying for cover, Reuters news agency reported. ''The attack on the PRT is still going on. We know there are several attackers. Helicopters are hovering overhead," a senior police official told the BBC.
Italy has about 3,800 troops serving in Afghanistan, the majority of them in the west. He said shops had been closed and that police and army officers had been deployed across the city.
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. PRTs are typically joint military and civilian operations designed to help build up Afghan government capacity in a province. There are 28 of them across Afghanistan.
The BBC's Quentin Somerville says Herat - a relatively peaceful city - is due to be soon handed to Afghan control, and so the attack is quite significant.
Earlier, Nato generals in Afghanistan apologised after civilians were killed in an air strike on Sunday.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai had criticised the coalition for the attack, which killed nine people.