This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22013106

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Afghanistan courthouse attack 'kills 30 people' Afghanistan courthouse attack 'kills 50 people'
(35 minutes later)
A suicide bomb and gun attack on a courthouse in the western Afghanistan has left more than 30 people dead and 90 injured, most of them civilians. A suicide bomb and gun attack on a courthouse in western Afghanistan has left more than 50 people dead and 90 injured, most of them civilians.
Militants disguised as soldiers tried unsuccessfully to free suspected Taliban members in the Farah province, Afghan officials said. Militants disguised as soldiers tried unsuccessfully to free suspected Taliban members in capital of the Farah province, Afghan officials said.
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 nearby buildings.
The Taliban said they were behind the attack in Farah, which borders Iran.The Taliban said they were behind the attack in Farah, which borders Iran.
This was the deadliest attack in Afghanistan since December 2011, the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Kabul reports.
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''Suicide belts'
The attack began at approximately 09:00 local time (04:30 GMT) on Wednesday, the Afghan officials said. The attack began at approximately 09:00 local time (04:30 GMT) on Wednesday in the city of Farah, the Afghan officials said.
The militants set off a large army vehicles packed with explosives, damaging nearby buildings - including the local governor's office - and two banks packed with civilians.
The gun battle then broke out with Afghan security forces, as militants took up positions in a number of buildings.
Initial reports suggested the target was the governor's compound before officials, and a Taliban spokesman, confirmed the attack had focused on the courthouse.Initial 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 the Farah city in Afghan national army vehicles, which allowed them to bypass checkpoints, provincial police chief Afghan Noor Kemtoz told AP news agency. Provincial police chief Afgha Noor Kemtoz told the AP news agency that six attackers wore suicide bomb vests.
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. Mr Kemtoz later said that the stand-off was over.
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 told AP. Afghan officials said that 34 civilians, 10 members of the security forces and nine militants died.
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.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.""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. However, Taliban spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying all the prisoners had been freed.
Following the blast, gunmen entered several "government institutions", he was quoted as saying by the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency.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'
The vast majority of those wounded in the attack were civilians, officials said. The majority of those wounded in the attack were civilians, a doctor at the local hospital told the BBC.
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."
Eyewitnesses, including doctors in the city, said both sides had used machine-guns and grenades.Eyewitnesses, including doctors in the city, said both sides had used machine-guns and grenades.
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. Speaking to the BBC, a senior Afghan security source said the courthouse and nearby banks had been "packed with civilians" at the time of the attack.