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Afghan attack targets Indian mission | Afghan attack targets Indian mission |
(35 minutes later) | |
Suicide bombers have targeted the Indian consulate in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, killing at least eight civilians. | |
Three bombers drove up in a car before detonating their explosives, police said. | Three bombers drove up in a car before detonating their explosives, police said. |
Gunfire was heard for an hour after the blast which took place at 10:00 local time (06:30 GMT). | Gunfire was heard for an hour after the blast which took place at 10:00 local time (06:30 GMT). |
Most of the victims were from a nearby mosque. Indian officials say none of their citizens were hurt. | |
At least 22 people were injured in the Jalalabad attack, according to the police, and many of the casualties were children. | |
Deputy police chief of Nangarhar province Masum Khan Hashimi said the blast, close to a mosque, had been a failed attempt to attack the Indian consulate. | |
He said two of the attackers wearing vests laden with explosives got out of the car and were immediately fired upon by police. | |
The remaining occupant of the car then blew it up, he told Reuters news agency. | |
The explosion also caused heavy damage to local shops. | |
It is not clear who was behind the attack. Jalalabad has frequently been the target of Taliban attacks, including a bomb blast at the airport last year. | |
However, a Taliban spokesman denied responsibility for Saturday's attack. | |
Indian buildings in Afghanistan have been targeted before. | |
In 2008 and 2009, the Indian embassy in Kabul was attacked twice with dozens of people killed. | |
The attack came after officials on Friday reported fierce fighting between security forces and militants in the Shirzad district of Nangarhar province. | |
They said 76 Taliban members and 22 police were killed in a series of clashes. | They said 76 Taliban members and 22 police were killed in a series of clashes. |