Explosion rocks German consulate in Afghan city

Taliban claim suicide bombing in retaliation for a NATO air strike

AFGHANISTAN: A suicide bomber rammed a car into the wall of the German consulate in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan late on Thursday, triggering a deadly blast that also wounded dozens, media reported.

At least two people were killed and 60 wounded including locals, some critically, the Twitter feed of a journalist, Bilal Sarwary, quoted a local doctor as saying.

A spokesperson for the German military joint forces command in Potsdam said the explosion occurred at around 2305 local time, and that gunshots were fired.



German broadcaster Deutsche Welle said the suicide bombing was claimed by the Taliban in retaliation for a NATO air strike last week near the northern city of Kunduz in which civilians were killed.

#AFG A source in Mazar-E Sharif , "Afghan&German Special Forces Incharge of operations. Going after attackers. Mission 2 kill attackers."

— BILAL SARWARY (@bsarwary) November 10, 2016

A spokesperson for NATO forces in the area said troops from the North Atlantic alliance had been sent to the scene.

The German foreign ministry had no immediate comment.