Dozens wounded in blast, gunfire near Afghan intel agency office

Dozens of people have been wounded in a car bomb blast followed by a shooting attack near an office of the Afghan intelligence agency in the northern province of Samangan.

Clashes broke out between Afghan security forces and unknown gunmen on Monday following the bomb attack that targeted a government facility, located close to an office of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in Samangan’s provincial capital, Aybak.

“It’s a complex attack that started with a car bomb. Clashes with the attackers are still going on,” said Mohammad Sediq Azizi, a spokesman for Samangan’s provincial government.

Khalil Musadeq, Samangan’s health director, said 43 civilians and members of the security forces were wounded in the blast and the ensuing exchange of gunfire.

Musadeq, however, predicted that the number of casualties would rise.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Violence has surged across the impoverished country despite a peace deal signed between the Taliban militant group and the United States, which was later endorsed by the Kabul government.

The United Nations reported earlier this month that over 800 people had been killed or wounded in the first half of 2020, in attacks targeting civilians across war-torn country.