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 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan courthouse attack 'kills 50 people' | Afghanistan courthouse attack 'kills 50 people' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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 capital of the Farah province, Afghan officials said. | |
| After a fierce initial gun battle, shooting continued as militants took cover in nearby buildings. | 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. | 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 in the city of Farah, 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 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. | 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. |
| Provincial police chief Afgha Noor Kemtoz told the AP news agency that six attackers wore suicide bomb vests. | Provincial police chief Afgha Noor Kemtoz told the AP news agency that six attackers wore suicide bomb vests. |
| Mr Kemtoz later said that the stand-off was over. | Mr Kemtoz later said that the stand-off was over. |
| Afghan officials said that 34 civilians, 10 members of the security forces and nine militants died. | 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. | 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 majority of those wounded in the attack were civilians, a doctor at the local hospital told the BBC. | 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 nearby banks had 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. |