10 Killed As Suicide Bombers Storm Local Bank Office In Afghanistan

At least 10 people, mostly civilians, were killed after Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers stormed a local bank office in southern Afghan province of Helmand on Wednesday, sources said.

Abdullah Abdullah, the chief executive of Afghan government, confirmed at a press conference that 10 people had been killed in a suicide explosion at the New Kabul Bank office building in Helmand's provincial capital of Lashkar Gah city.

The attack occurred at around midday after a suicide bomber blew up his suicide jacket at the entrance of the New Kabul Bank office, enabling an unknown number of armed militants to enter the building, a provincial security source told Xinhua.

He said an exchange of gunfire followed the first explosion. A second blast was also reported at the area.

The gunmen apparently seized a number of workers and civilian hostages inside the building, the source said.

Several members of the security forces were also in the branch to collect their salaries when the attack took place, the source said, adding "an unidentified number of people got injured as a result of the explosion and firing."

Reinforcement troops surrounded the targeted office and are preparing to storm the building.
Security forces have cordoned off the area for precautionary measures.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. (Cihan/Xinhua)