Insurgent mortar attack kills five in Afghanistan: officials

Eleven other members of family wounded in mortar attack, provincial police chief says

JALALABAD: At least five members of a family were killed after an insurgent mortar hit their house in eastern Afghanistan, Afghan provincial authorities said Saturday.

"Five Afghan civilians, four women and a man were killed in an enemy mortar attack in Alingar district of Laghman province late Friday evening," provincial police chief, Daud Amin, told AFP.

Amin said eleven other members of the family were wounded in the mortar attack.

Laghman provincial governor spokesperson, Sarhadi Zwak, confirmed the mortar attack and gave the same death toll.

Zwak said women and children were among the wounded in the attack.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

It comes as the Taliban insurgents have announced their annual spring offensive - vowing to target Afghan police, army and intelligence officials.