Afghan Taliban Fighters in Burqas, Uniforms Kill 6 in Attack

Taliban gunmen disguised in women’s burqas and wearing military uniforms underneath stormed a court building in an eastern Afghan province on Wednesday, killing five civilians and a policeman, Afghan officials said.

A statement from the Interior Ministry said “four terrorists” were involved in the attack in the city of Ghazni, the capital of the eastern Ghazni province.

Jawed Salangi, spokesman for the provincial governor, said a suicide bomber launched the coordinated attack by blowing himself up at the court’s entrance, after which three other attackers stormed the building.

The ministry said a firefight ensued and the three other attackers were shot and killed by the security forces. Salangi said police were also attempting to defuse an explosives-packed vehicle parked near the courthouse.

Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for the country’s interior minister, said the attackers concealed themselves under women’s traditional head-to-toe coverings, called burqas, which they removed during the attack. They also wore uniforms underneath, he said.

Two women and one policeman were among the six killed, Sediqqi said, adding that 13 civilians were also wounded in the attack.

The Taliban, who have waged war on Kabul since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion toppled their regime, claimed responsibility for the attack. The insurgents have increasingly targeted Afghan judicial workers since the government executes six convicted Taliban members last month. They routinely also target government employees and security officials across the country.

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