Taliban storm court in east Ghazni, kill 6: Afghan official

Kabul: Taliban gunmen stormed a court building in an eastern Afghan province today, killing five civilians and a policeman, the Interior Ministry said.

A statement from the ministry said "four terrorists" were involved in the attack in the city of Ghazni, the capital of the eastern Ghazni province.

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Jawed Salangi, spokesman for the provincial governor, said that 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.

The Taliban, who have waged war on Kabul since the 2001 US-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.

In the northern Balkh province, district police chief Bismullah Khan was killed when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb on Wednesday, said Gen. Abdul Razaq Qaderi, deputy provincial police chief.

Three other policemen who were Khan's bodyguards were wounded in the blast, said Qaderi. He added that Khan was police chief in Sholgara district and was on his way to attend a security meeting in Mazar-e Sharif, the capital of Balkh.

The Taliban also claimed responsibility for the deadly attack in Balkh