3rd LD: Unknown armed men attack Indian Consulate in Afghanistan, gunshots continue
Xinhua, January 4, 2016 Adjust font size:
Unknown armed men attacked Indian Consulate in Afghan northern Mazar-e-Sharif city 305 km north of Kabul on Sunday night and gunshots are still continuing, police said Monday.
"A group of armed militants occupied a residential house next to the Indian Consulate at 08:45 p.m. on Sunday and begun targeting the consulate building with assault rifles and hand grenades," police officer Shafi Sadat told reporters here.
Without commenting on possible casualties, the official added that security forces had tightened siege and are trying to capture or kill the assailants.
Meanwhile, a security official on the condition of anonymity told Xinhua that four security personnel and three civilians have sustained injuries during the firefight, which is still going on.
The official added that no Indian national has suffered in the incident and all of them have been evacuated to safer place.
The number of attackers, according to the official, could be between eight to 12, all armed with assault rifles and suicide vests.
No group or individuals have claimed responsibility. Endite