Explosion rocks German consulate in Afghan city

Taliban claim suicide bombing in retaliation for a NATO air strike

PHOTO: EXPRESS

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.


Counter-attack: US air strikes kill 30 Afghan civilians

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.



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.
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