UPDATE: Death toll rises to 71 in Taliban attacks on Afghanistan

Tue, 17 Oct, 2017 - 12:03

Update 3.01pm: The Taliban have killed 71 people in attacks in Afghanistan's Ghazni and Paktia provinces, the country's deputy interior minister has said.

The official, Murad Ali Murad, told a press conference in Kabul that the attacks on Tuesday were the "biggest terrorist attack this year".

He said in one of the attacks, in southern Paktia province, 41 people, 21 policemen and 20 civilians, were killed when the Taliban targeted a police compound in the provincial capital of Gardez with two suicide car bombs.

Scores were also wounded, 48 policemen and 110 others.

The provincial police chief was among those killed in the Paktia attack.

Mr Murad said in the attack in Andar district in Ghazni province, 25 policemen were killed and also five civilians.

At least 15 people were wounded, including 10 policemen.

Despite the staggering numbers, Mr Murad said Afghan forces are confident in their "readiness to fight terrorists and eliminate them from Afghanistan".

Earlier: A Taliban attack on a police training centre in Afghanistan's eastern Paktia province has killed at least 14 people, including civilians.

Health Ministry spokesman Waheed Majroo said dozens were also wounded in the attack on Tuesday in Gardez, the provincial capital.

He said the city hospital reported receiving 130 wounded in the attack, which included a suicide bombing.

Hamza Aqmhal, a student at the Paktia University, told The Associated Press that he heard a very powerful blast.

He said it shattered glass and broke all the windows at the building he was in which he says is more than a mile from the training academy.

Mr Aqmhal said he was slightly injured by the glass.

A Paktia politician, Mujeeb Rahman Chamkni, said the provincial chief police, Toryalai Abdyani, and several of his staff were among those killed in the attack.

He said most of the casualties were civilians who had come to the centre, which also serves a government passport department.

Reports from Gardez said the attack there was still under way.