A group of Taliban infiltrated a government building in a northern city of Afghanistan and killed 16 people, including women and children, and wounded more than 60, sources with local security.
The men, dressed in military uniform entered a complex judicial offices in Mazar-e-Sharif , capital of Balkh province, and staged an exchange of fire with security forces that lasted for more than six hours.
the head of regional security, Abdul Khaliq Qaderi , said that in fact 11 civilians, five policemen and four attackers, while 67 people, all civilians, were wounded died.
the head of the provincial hospital, Khuwaja Noor Mohammad Faiz, reported that the health center received 16 bodies, but not the bodies of the four bombers, and who treated 67 wounded.
"most of the dead and wounded are civilians, including children and women, and dozens wounded are in critical situation, "said Faiz, so the death toll could rise, the news agency reported EFE .
attackers shot and killed the guard security guarding the entrance to gain access to the site, which houses the office of the attorney general provincial and the Court of Appeals of Balkh.
the Afghan Ministry of Interior said the attackers were five four were killed and the other detainee, in a statement in which he said that all workers and visitors were evacuated from the building.
the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on the "enemies" suffered heavy casualties, according tweeted spokesman the insurgent group, Zabihullah Mujahid.
the attacks in Balkh are less common than in other Afghan provinces, although there insurgent activity in rural areas.
NATO put an end in 2014 to its combat mission in Afghanistan (ISAF), which was replaced in January by the operation with about 4,000 soldiers in relief efforts and training of the bodies of Afghan security.
at the same time, the United States continued its mission "terrorism" in the Central Asian country, which invaded in 01 after the attacks of 11-S, with 9,800 soldiers remain on the ground until year end.
Source: Telam