KHOST: Taliban fighters attacked an Afghan road construction company before dawn Thursday, triggering gun battles that killed 35 people and wounded another 20 in the worst single attack in months.
The attack, which sparked a shootout lasting five hours, happened in the eastern province of Paktia at around 2:00am (2130 GMT Wednesday), a provincial spokesman said.
It is thought to be the highest single death toll in a Taliban attack since the militant struck at a bank in Jalalabad, also in the east, in February, killing 38 people including police collecting their salaries.
"A large group of Taliban attacked a road construction company in Paktia province. The fighting between the company guards and Taliban attackers continued for five hours," said Paktia provincial spokesman Rohullah Samoon.
"Thirty-five guards and staff of the company were killed and 20 were injured. There were casualties on the Taliban side as well." Samoon said eight Taliban were also killed.
Deputy provincial governor Abdul Rahman Mangal said the company targeted was Afghan.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the movement carried out the attack, killing 40 people and torching four vehicles. He did not mention any Taliban casualties. (AFP)
The attack, which sparked a shootout lasting five hours, happened in the eastern province of Paktia at around 2:00am (2130 GMT Wednesday), a provincial spokesman said.
It is thought to be the highest single death toll in a Taliban attack since the militant struck at a bank in Jalalabad, also in the east, in February, killing 38 people including police collecting their salaries.
"A large group of Taliban attacked a road construction company in Paktia province. The fighting between the company guards and Taliban attackers continued for five hours," said Paktia provincial spokesman Rohullah Samoon.
"Thirty-five guards and staff of the company were killed and 20 were injured. There were casualties on the Taliban side as well." Samoon said eight Taliban were also killed.
Deputy provincial governor Abdul Rahman Mangal said the company targeted was Afghan.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the movement carried out the attack, killing 40 people and torching four vehicles. He did not mention any Taliban casualties. (AFP)
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