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Militants storm court in Farah, Afghanistan Militants storm court in Farah, Afghanistan
(35 minutes later)
A suicide bomb and gun attack on a courthouse in the west Afghan city of Farah has left at least six people dead and 70 injured. A suicide bomb and gun attack on a courthouse in the west Afghan city of Farah has left at least six people dead and 70 injured, most of them civilians.
A bomb-laden vehicle exploded outside the provincial courthouse, in a busy area close to banks and shops. Militants disguised as soldiers tried unsuccessfully to free suspected Taliban members, officials say.
After a fierce initial gun battle, shooting continued as militants took cover in at least one building.After a fierce initial gun battle, shooting continued as militants took cover in at least one building.
Taliban insurgents said they were behind the attack in the strategic province, which borders Iran.Taliban insurgents said they were behind the attack in the strategic province, which borders Iran.
A bomb and gun attack on the governor's compound last May left six policemen, a civilian and four attackers dead.A bomb and gun attack on the governor's compound last May left six policemen, a civilian and four attackers dead.
'Suicide belts'
The attack began at approximately 09:00 local time (04:30 GMT).
Early reports suggested the target was the governor's compound before officials, and a Taliban spokesman, confirmed the attack had focused on the courthouse.
Six men wearing suicide bomb vests drove into the centre of Farah in Afghan national army vehicles, which allowed them to bypass checkpoints, provincial police chief Agha Noor Kemtoz told AP news agency.
Two blew themselves up inside one of the vehicles while the four others jumped out of the second and ran toward the courthouse and prosecutor's office, he said.
Guards opened fire, killing one attacker, while the other three fled to nearby buildings and engaged in a fierce gun battle which trapped civil servants and government officials in their offices, Mr Kemtoz said.
He said he believed two attackers had been killed but that could not be confirmed because the fighting was continuing.
According to the police chief, the aim of the attack had been to free 15 Taliban prisoners who were being transferred to the courthouse for trial.
"Definitely the plan was to free the prisoners with this attack but, thank God, they did not succeed," he added. "All the prisoners are accounted for."
However, Taliban spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying all the prisoners had been freed in the attack.
Following the blast, gunmen entered several "government institutions", he was quoted as saying by the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency.
'Packed with civilians''Packed with civilians'
In Wednesday's attack, it appears the militants struck while a trial of Taliban suspects was taking place inside the courthouse. An unconfirmed report by the Taliban said those on trial had been freed. The vast majority of those wounded in the attack were civilians, officials say.
The vast majority of those wounded were civilians, officials say.
Eyewitnesses, including doctors in the city, said both sides had used machine-guns and grenades.
Mohammad Yunus, Farah's deputy governor, told a private Afghan TV channel by phone that militants had set off a "large explosive-laden vehicle", damaging buildings including the governor's office, other government and non-government agencies, and two banks.
After the initial assault, he told Channel One TV, that gunmen took up position in "multi-storey buildings".
Speaking to the BBC, a senior Afghan security source said: "First there was a suicide attack, later on a group of attackers started fighting."
He also confirmed there had been fighting close to a court and a bank, both of which had been "packed with civilians".
Local shopkeeper Sayed Jan told the BBC: "I heard a huge bang and when I looked I saw several attackers armed with light and heavy weapons running towards the bank and the court.Local shopkeeper Sayed Jan told the BBC: "I heard a huge bang and when I looked I saw several attackers armed with light and heavy weapons running towards the bank and the court.
"There is blood and broken glass. There is a heavy exchange of gunfire and my shop has become a centre of the fighting.""There is blood and broken glass. There is a heavy exchange of gunfire and my shop has become a centre of the fighting."
Taliban spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi said the group had carried out a suicide attack on the governor's office at approximately 09:00 local time (04:30 GMT). Eyewitnesses, including doctors in the city, said both sides had used machine-guns and grenades.
Following the blast, gunmen entered several "government institutions", he was quoted as saying by the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency. Speaking to the BBC, a senior Afghan security source said the courthouse and a nearby bank had both been "packed with civilians" at the time of the attack.