Twin suicide blasts in western Afghanistan kill 4

Twin suicide blasts in western Afghanistan kill 4

2011-05-30 19:08:45 GMT+7 (ICT)

HERAT CITY, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Twin suicide blasts killed at least 4 people in the western region of Afghanistan, triggering violent clashes, officials said on Monday.

The blasts occurred at around noon in the Jada-i-Mahtab and Cinema Chowk areas of Herat City, the capital of Afghanistan's western province of Herat, western zone police spokesman Col. Abdul Ahmadi told Pajhwok Afghan News.

In addition to the four fatal victims, at least 24 others were injured, according Public Health Director Dr. Ghulam Saeed Rashid, as they were transported to local hospitals.

According to Ahmadi, the first explosion targeted a foreign troop convoy in the Cinema Chowk area, while the second blast in the Jada-i-Mahtab neighborhood detonated near the Italian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team and injured two of its guards.

After the second explosion, gunfire was exchanged in the area until 1 p.m. local time. Some local residents began fleeing the area, as others hid indoors, but further casualties were not reported.

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