7 killed in militant attack on provincial court office in Afghanistan

Afghanistan, June 5 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people, including a senior local judge, were killed and 19 others wounded after militants stormed a provincial court office in Afghanistan's eastern province of Logar on Sunday, police said.

"The initial reports found, five civilians were killed and 19 others wounded in Sunday morning's attack on Logar provincial Appeal Court office building," Nisar Ahmad Abdulrahimzai, deputy provincial police chief, told Xinhua.

The attack took place at around 11:00 a.m. local time in provincial capital Pul-e-Alam city.

Among the killed was Akram Nejat, head of provincial Appellate Court, the police official confirmed.

"The attack took place when an official ceremony was underway in the building. Nejat was appointed recently to serve as the chairman of provincial court but he was killed in the incident," the police official noted.

Two suicide bombers were also killed as a result of the attack, he said. At least one explosion occurred inside the building's yard, he said.

Government troops cordoned off the area for precautionary measures.

No group has claimed responsibility yet for the attack, but the Taliban insurgent group routinely claims responsibility for such attacks.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since early April when the militant group launched its annual rebel offensive in different areas of the country.

The Taliban urged civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants besides warning people not to support the government.

On Wednesday, five people, including four civilians, were killed and 16 others wounded after four Taliban militants attacked a local court office in neighboring Ghazni province

source : xinhua