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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Attack on Indian consulate in Herat, Afghanistan | Attack on Indian consulate in Herat, Afghanistan |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Indian consulate in the Afghan city of Herat has been attacked, and the area is surrounded by security forces. | The Indian consulate in the Afghan city of Herat has been attacked, and the area is surrounded by security forces. |
| Police said three gunmen opened fire with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades but one of them was killed. The other two fled into a nearby building. | Police said three gunmen opened fire with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades but one of them was killed. The other two fled into a nearby building. |
| It is not clear who is behind the attack and there are no details of casualties. | It is not clear who is behind the attack and there are no details of casualties. |
| Later the Indian foreign ministry said all of its personnel were safe. | Later the Indian foreign ministry said all of its personnel were safe. |
| Syed Akbaruddin, a spokesman for the Indian government, confirmed the incident and praised "brave" consulate staff and Afghan security forces for repelling the attack. | Syed Akbaruddin, a spokesman for the Indian government, confirmed the incident and praised "brave" consulate staff and Afghan security forces for repelling the attack. |
| "All safe. Operation underway," he tweeted. | "All safe. Operation underway," he tweeted. |
| Herat lies near Afghanistan's border with Iran and is considered one of the safer cities in the country. | |
| In September 2013, the Taliban launched a similar assault on the US consulate in the city, killing at least four Afghans but failing to enter the compound or hurt any Americans. | |
| Friday's incident comes on the eve of the inauguration of new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which will be attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai. | |
| Afghanistan has seen a surge in attacks in recent weeks as foreign troops begin to withdraw from the country. | Afghanistan has seen a surge in attacks in recent weeks as foreign troops begin to withdraw from the country. |
| Millions of Afghans defied Taliban threats to take part in the first round of elections in April to replace outgoing President Karzai. | Millions of Afghans defied Taliban threats to take part in the first round of elections in April to replace outgoing President Karzai. |
| The second round, due in mid-June, pits front-runner Abdullah Abdullah against Ashraf Ghani, a former World Bank economist. | The second round, due in mid-June, pits front-runner Abdullah Abdullah against Ashraf Ghani, a former World Bank economist. |