44 killed, several hurt as Taliban storm Afghan court
Attackers storm an Afghan court complex in an apparent attempt to free insurgents standing trial.
HERAT (AFP) - At least 44 people were killed by Taliban militants who stormed an Afghan court complex on Wednesday in an apparent attempt to free insurgents standing trial, officials said.
"I can confirm that 34 civilians, six army and four policemen have been killed and 91 people, the majority of them civilians, have been injured," Najib Danish, interior ministry deputy spokesman, told AFP.
Taliban attackers on Wednesday stormed an Afghan court complex in an apparent attempt to free insurgents standing trial, killing at least six people and wounding 70 others.
It was not immediately clear whether the accused men had escaped the court in the western town of Farah, although a hospital doctor said one court prisoner was among those being treated for injuries.
At least four militants died in the bomb and gun assault, which will raise further questions about the Afghans ability to secure the country as NATO winds down its combat mission in the war-torn country by the end of next year.
Two attackers died when they detonated a car bomb at the gate of the provincial court building, two were shot by security forces and another man was still alive, with a firefight continuing more than seven hours after the assault began.
"Our latest report shows that at least six (other) people have been killed and 70 people have been wounded," Mohammad Akram Khpalwak, governor of Farah province, told AFP.
"A group of Taliban were brought to the court today for trial," he said, without giving further details.
Agha Noor Kentos, police chief of Farah, said five police were among the wounded.
"At around 8:00 am (0330 GMT) five attackers riding in two military-style vehicles drove to the provincial court building, one (vehicle) detonated at the gate and three attackers entered the building," Kentos told AFP.
"One is still resisting," he said.
Wakil Ahmad, a doctor at Farah hospital, said medics were treating 51 wounded people -- 35 civilians, 11 police, two army soldiers, two judges and one court prisoner.
Taliban militants fighting the US-backed central government claimed responsibility.
"Our fighters attacked several government buildings in Farah according to their planned tactic. They conducted the attack with small arms and grenades," the group said on its website.
"The fighting happened after information that (President Hamid) Karzai s administration wanted to try several fighters in a cruel way in this court."
Abdul Rahman Zhawandon, spokesman for the governor of Farah, said the area was sealed off as firing continued through the day and some attackers had also entered a Kabul Bank office attached to the court building.
The governor s compound was around 200 metres away from the scene of attack, an AFP reporter said.
