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Afghan police station attack leaves at least 18 people dead | Afghan police station attack leaves at least 18 people dead |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Taliban fighters have killed at least 10 policemen in an attack on a city in eastern Afghanistan. | |
Gun battles started early on Thursday morning in Jalalabad after a "multi-pronged" attack by insurgents. | Gun battles started early on Thursday morning in Jalalabad after a "multi-pronged" attack by insurgents. |
Police said they shot dead seven attackers, all of them wearing suicide bomb vests. | Police said they shot dead seven attackers, all of them wearing suicide bomb vests. |
The attack comes after the Taliban vowed to disrupt the run-up to presidential elections in the country on 5 April. | The attack comes after the Taliban vowed to disrupt the run-up to presidential elections in the country on 5 April. |
"Ten policemen, including the district police chief, were killed and 14 police were wounded," deputy interior minister Mohammad Ayoub Salangi told AFP. | "Ten policemen, including the district police chief, were killed and 14 police were wounded," deputy interior minister Mohammad Ayoub Salangi told AFP. |
"One civilian was also killed, and all seven attackers." | "One civilian was also killed, and all seven attackers." |
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message sent to media. | The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message sent to media. |
The insurgents are believed to have stormed Jalalabad's key police station, close to government offices and the headquarters of the governor, shortly after a car bomb was detonated. | The insurgents are believed to have stormed Jalalabad's key police station, close to government offices and the headquarters of the governor, shortly after a car bomb was detonated. |
The gun battles continued for several hours after the bomb blast and Nato sent helicopter gunships to support Afghan security forces. | The gun battles continued for several hours after the bomb blast and Nato sent helicopter gunships to support Afghan security forces. |
Interior ministry spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, said one or two attackers had holed up in a small room inside the police station before they were finally killed by security forces. | |
Witnesses in the city told the BBC that the state-run Radio Television Afghanistan was one of many buildings that were still on fire following the attack. | Witnesses in the city told the BBC that the state-run Radio Television Afghanistan was one of many buildings that were still on fire following the attack. |
Mohammad Habib, an eyewitness, said the explosion shook the city. | Mohammad Habib, an eyewitness, said the explosion shook the city. |
"I woke up and my windows were broken. Then there were gun shots and explosions throughout the morning. Now almost half of the city remains closed," he said. | "I woke up and my windows were broken. Then there were gun shots and explosions throughout the morning. Now almost half of the city remains closed," he said. |
Local taxi driver Khan Jan told the BBC: "The sound of the explosion was deafening, there was a powerful explosion which broke windows of nearby shops and homes. It woke the city." | Local taxi driver Khan Jan told the BBC: "The sound of the explosion was deafening, there was a powerful explosion which broke windows of nearby shops and homes. It woke the city." |
On Tuesday, a suicide attack in northern Afghanistan killed 17 civilians including women and children and injured more than 60. | On Tuesday, a suicide attack in northern Afghanistan killed 17 civilians including women and children and injured more than 60. |
The Taliban have threatened a campaign of violence to disrupt the election on 5 April. | The Taliban have threatened a campaign of violence to disrupt the election on 5 April. |
The poll will choose a new Afghan president to lead the country as foreign troops prepare to end their combat mission by the end of the year. | The poll will choose a new Afghan president to lead the country as foreign troops prepare to end their combat mission by the end of the year. |