Taliban attack on German consulate kills 2 in Afghanistan

At least two persons were killed and more than two dozen injured in an overnight Taliban car bombing against German consulate in the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif, local officials said on Friday.

"One terrorist detonated a car bomb near the gate of German Consulate office late Thursday night, killing himself and one other person and injuring 28 others," a security source told Xinhua news agency.

UN official sources put the number of the injured at 90 by the powerful explosion which occurred roughly at 11.15 p.m. on Thursday.

"The injured were residents who suffered injuries by the bomb shrapnel and flying glasses as the blast damaged several buildings near the site," the source said, adding an investigation was launched into the incident and further details will be released afterwards.

The Taliban militant group claimed responsibility for the attack shortly after the blast.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, told local media that the bombing was a revenge attack against killing of civilians by "invaders" in Kunduz province.

On November 3, a series of air strikes were carried out by NATO-led forces on outskirts of Kunduz city, following ground operations conducted by foreign and Afghan security forces.

--IANS

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